Most recently at the Customs House, Tom has written BABY LOVE staged in September 2004 "Tom Kelly is one of the north east’s most prolific playwright’s 
…his writing strikes a chord with local audiences…even though his themes maybe universal…the settings and characters are very Tyneside" (
British Theatre Guide)  

I LEFT MY HEART IN ROKER PARK…(EXTRA TIME AT THE STADIUM OF LIGHT).
"Tom Kelly provides pathos and humour as John Sullivan does in the best of Fools and Horses" Evening Chronicle…" 
"The first night audience clearly loved the play and gave a standing ovation", The British Theatre Guide. 
It was also staged The Stadium of Light as part of the Bob Stokoe events to raise funds for a memorial to Sunderland’s ex manager and messiah.

GEORDIE RIDLEY, a new play for this years Blaydon Festival, once again directed by Chris Elphinstone;

FAMILY TIES, September 2003, directed by Chris Elphinstone; DAN DARE-THE MUSICAL with John Miles, directed by Ray Spencer; which was staged in March 2003;  

LOVE IN NE32 five short plays which broke box office records in September 2002; SECRETS four short plays staged in February 2002. 
(Also directed by Chris Elphinstone). TOM & CATHERINE (with John Miles & Ray Spencer) which sold out in 1999 and again in 2001 (Directed by Neil Armstrong).

He has a new poetry pamphlet published by SAND PUBLICATIONS, THE PICTURE FROM HERE.

Tom works as a drama lecturer at South Tyneside College, has ran and been guest at many writers groups throughout the north east 
and worked on arts development projects and given readings in church halls, Leeds Literature Festival and most recently at 
The Customs House & The Morden Tower.

He lives in Blaydon with his family, two cats and is life long Sunderland supporter.




 

HAPPINESS

This is the moment when the world is boxed out:
front door locked, chain hanging like a droopy eye.

It's before ten; you're asleep in your cot,
& I've checked on you seven times as we sit,
wait for what the night has to bring our New World,
& find saying little is what is needed.

After months of waiting, terror and laughter,
you are here, settled: the perfect answer.



VELVET SLEEP

Tiredness is here. It's al la Carte,
cheapest on the menu. Go to the buffet of sleep,
return time & again, without broken dreams,
and I want more: a full-course-meal-of-eight-hours,
uninterrupted snoring; the duvet tastes
so sweet, good enough to eat & lie all day.

I could eat sleep and I will devour sleep,
breakfast, dinner & tea. I am so deprived,
I cry and whinge in a corner,
I want to throw myself on the floor, curl up,
become a child, yes become you, a baby.
I want your gentle movement, your velvet sleep.



CARRYING THE CHILD IN THE HOUSE

He opens the door carefully
an eye to the child sleeping in his wife's arms.
It starts to rain and he holds his hand over the baby's face.
Drawing his keys from his pocket
he opens the door,
lets his family enter with a flourish,
they stand at the window watching the rain falling.



DREAM

You know one of those anxiety dreams,
when your children
are fighting tigers and you are trapped in a cave
or too far away and can't get near.
You wake, hot and sweating,
confused, half asleep,
check their bedroom,
to kill a tiger.



IT RAINED

after days of sunshine.

At first random drops
on the window,
a drummer warming-up,
tuning his kit.

Washing began to be taken indoors,
men with cans of lager
pulled shirts and dresses from lines,
women held naked babies who screamed
with excitement at the rain.



IN THE DARK

Don't be afraid
as you scurry from your room
into ours,
looking at the drifting curtains
and your shadow on the ceiling.

In you, I see me,
running with fear.
Don't be afraid,
don't cry
into your pillow,
we are here in the dark.



BREATHE

Your child is ill
you fall apart
sick with worry
wake with bad dreams
and harsh breathing
from her bedroom.

Pain and worry
gnaw and scorch you.

She recovers
at some dead hour
and you fight to sleep
dream any dream
as a stone falls
into a small lake
and you breathe, breathe.