Arvind Ethan David is a playwright, screenwriter, comic book writer, and novelist whose career has spanned theatre, film, television, and prose. In this wide-ranging conversation with Nadine Matheson, he traces his journey from a Malaysian childhood through UK boarding school, a strategic detour through law (to secure a work visa), and into a creative life that has included an Olivier nomination, a Broadway show, seven graphic novels, and his debut novel The Great Game. Along the way, he shares practical wisdom for aspiring writers, candid reflections on the pandemic, and a remarkable story about how Douglas Adams launched his career.
Arvind Ethan David is a writer working across theatre, film, television, comics, and prose. Born in Malaysia and educated in the UK, he studied law at university and qualified as a lawyer before transitioning to full-time creative work. His credits include the film The Infidel(with David Baddiel), the Audible radio play series Earworms, the Olivier-nominated stage adaptation The Boy With Wings (based on Lenny Henry's children's books), and seven graphic novels. His debut novel The Great Game, a historical thriller set in 1905 London featuring Sherlock Holmes, Winston Churchill, and a cat burglar named Bal — is published by Thomas & Mercer (Amazon Publishing). He divides his time between London and Los Angeles.