Life so far

Tom Dewey was born in Easton, Bristol in 1996. He grew up in a working class context without access to the arts. Age 19, Tom discovered spoken word poetry by chance. This encounter changed his life forever.

Tom began writing and performing spoken word, and within two months was the youngest ever regional slam champion. His spoken word journey has seen him deliver a TEDx Talk, perform to a sold-out Roundhouse in London, have his work featured on BBC iPlayer and have his poetry displayed on billboards in Bristol.

In 2025, Tom began posting his poetry on Instagram where he quickly amassed over 200,000 views, including 80,000 views of the poem BOTTLES performed at Spit Nights.

Tom’s poetry has been said to suggest “Presence and absence…everything and nothing. Dewey is a young man under an old sun who catches its ancient light.”

Tom has written four full-length plays. His debut BOTTLES was showcased at Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2017. His second play THE MOTHER’S RUIN has been workshopped at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Tom’s third play NO ONE, NOWHERE was long-listed for several prestigious awards and his latest play THE COST OF SYMMETRY is presently in workshop.

Tom is also a celebrated theatre critic, writing regularly for Bristol 24/7, the South West’s largest independent media outlet. Tom is frequently selected to review both touring and in-house productions at Bristol Old Vic, the oldest continually operating theatre in the English speaking world.

Tom is an Apples and Snakes Writing Room Alumnus, a Bristol Old Vic Open Sessions Writer, one of Rife Magazine’s Most Influential People in Bristol and a Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts.

Tom is a recovering drug and alcohol addict, with five years of continuous sobriety. Much of Tom’s literary and voluntary work is concerned with addiction.