Oliver read Divinity at the University of Edinburgh which naturally led him to become a passenger boat skipper in York. Subsequently he trained as an actor at The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. It was there that he began to write, with the aim of giving himself and a few friends new speeches for their West End showcase.

When it came to writing his first play, his father's advice was to write about something he liked. “I can't just write about elephants” responded Oliver. Six month's later THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM won the 2008 Equinox New Comedy Award. Subsequently the play enjoyed a sell out run at the 2009 Fresh Ideas Festival at the New Wimbledon Studio.

His second play, OVER THE MOON is about an agoraphobic who meets an astronaut who's walked on the moon. It showcases in May 2010 at the New Wimbledon Studio.

Oliver's other writing credits include a series of internet viral commercials for T-Mobile as well as occasionally writing for BBC Radio. Recently he has been commissioned to write his first screenplay, a comedy about bankers.

He aims to complete his third play this year, though readily admits that after writing about elephants and astronauts there may not be an entirely obvious progression to his work, but that's the by product of getting to write about what you're really passionate about.