Tom Saunders was born on Merseyside and studied Drama at the University of Hull.

As Participation Officer and Youth Theatre Director at Birmingham Repertory Theatre the Birmingham REP he has directed HARBORNE HERALD (purpose built space in Harborne Academy), MACBETH AND HAMLET youth theatre double-bill (BOA), THE TELFORD SECRET GARDEN FESTIVAL (Dawley Park), HAPPILY EVER AFTER (The Crescent Theatre Studio) devised by students from Harborne Academy and the TOY THEATRE FESTIVAL of Winter 2011(The Crescent Theatre.)

In his role as Creative Learning Assistant at Hull Truck Theatre he directed Hull Truck’s Youth Theatre in 10:18 YOUNG WRITERS FESTIVAL (Hull Truck Studio), FINDING PHILLIP (Hull Truck Studio), HULL'S DARK PAST (Street Theatre) and ON THE BUSES (Hull Truck Studio) a devised performance by service users of Supported Housing.

Tom has a passion for new writing and working with playwrights. As Youth Theatre Director at the REP he set up and runs the Young REP playwrights - a group of 14-18 year olds who work all year round on writing plays and seeing them through to performance. He assists on Write Away - the REP's new writer's development programme- and lead script-in-hand workshops with actors to support the writer's development. Tom directed SHOT AT DAWN (Hull Truck Studio) in a script-in-hand performance and lead the post-show discussion that gave the playwright invaluable feedback.