Who is Thom Blake?
My name is Thom Blake, a real boy for hire who’s currently playing Pinocchio for the ACO. I’m a Sydney based performer, and I’ve been doing what I do for as long as I can remember, whether it’s acting, or more recently taiko drumming and dancing.
What would you do differently from what you do now?
Hey, I’m only 19. Ask me in 10 years and I might have some regrets to air. But right now? I’m happy going on living and working the way I do.
Who inspires you and why?
New people inspire me every day. Just the other day, I went to a medieval faire, and there was a competitor in the jousting that had taken up the sport in his late 60s, and is now in his 80s, I think the way we never stop learning is incredible, and I aspire to keep on trying new things throughout my whole life.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
Keep making art! Art that’s weird, art that’s dangerous, art that’s full of joy and life and humanity. There’s nothing more important than persistently creating art right now, especially at a time when CEOs are claiming that AI replacement is inevitable.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
I’m a festival chaser when it comes to holidays, and the taiko festival in Ise, Japan is out of this world, three days straight of drumming and community, dawn to dusk. It’s a remarkable thing to experience, in a beautiful location too.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
Taronga Zoo is hard to beat as far as Sydney attractions come for me, I love animals, birds in particular, I’ve got a real soft spot for magpies – they’re misunderstood!
What are you currently reading?
Max Porter is my favourite author of all time, and I’m currently working through his whole body of work, Lanny is an absolute masterpiece, his way with words is utter wizardry.
What are you currently listening to?
I’m the sort of person that listens to anything and everything when it comes to music, but right now, I’ve been enjoying getting into Samba music, the rhythms and the joy of the carnival are so infectious.
Happiness is?
The only thing worth pursuing in life really. To me, it’s time spent invested in my hobbies, it’s performing, it’s coming out the other side of a black belt karate grading battered but victorious, it’s doing trial classes of every hobby under the sun just for the hell of it.
What does the future hold for you?
A life full of twists and turns I hope, one that I can never predict, and one that is brimming with opportunities to try new things, pursue my hobbies, careers and dreams.
Thom stars as Pinocchio in Australian Chamber Orchestra’s new ACO Families production of Pinocchio – which is currently playing at ACO On The Pier, The Neilson, until 19 July, before playing at Riverside Live at PHIVE, Parramatta, on Saturday 25 July 2026.
Image: Thom Blake (supplied)