Photo: Victoria Scott
Me
I am a Hmong-Australian writer working across theatre, live art, audio and screen. My works explore otherness and multi-cultural and multi-ethnic identity, usually through contemporary narratives that privilege the experiences of women and people of colour.
I work and live on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. I was born on Ngunnawal country.
Land was never ceded.
CV
Current work
Coming up
2025: These Other Things (full-length play, stage), creator, writer and performer
2025: Playtime Pals (animated IG series) creator/director Guido Ponzini, producers Steven Arriagada and Stefan Delatovic, co-lead writer
In development
Dawn: Teenage Shaman (TV supernatural comedy, animated), Cinaxiom Studios, creator/writer
Chu’s Party (full-length play, stage), creator/writer
The Lookalike (full-length play, stage), creator/writer
Authentically (TV comedy, half hour), creator/writer
Stuck in Paradise (TV comedy, half hour), Unless Pictures, co-creator/writer
Past work
Produced work
2024: The Word, (text-based work, stage), St Martins Youth Arts Centre, co-writer and dramaturg
2024: White Fever (TV series), creator/writer Ra Chapman, story producer Katherine Fry, Unruly Productions, Orange Entertainment, Black Sheep, broadcaster ABC, writer episode 2
2023: How do I let you die? (live art, theatre), Arts House, creator/writer and lead artist
2023: Squishy Taylor and the City-wide Ghost Plague (interactive children’s adventure played at home), remount, Melbourne Fringe Festival, co-creator/performance text writer
2022: Town Choir, Theater Replacement (Canada) and Melbourne Fringe Festival, keynote live work, participating writer
2022: Blacklab Productions Tik Tok series, two 6 x 2-minute eps, ‘Orbit’ and ‘Soar’, writer
2022: Security (full-length play, stage), Darebin Speakeasy, Northcote Town Hall Arts Centre, creator/writer and lead artist
2022: Rice, (full-length play, stage), Orange Tree Theatre and Actors Touring Company, UK tour, creator/writer
2021: The Real Housewives of Coburg, a short monologue, Critical Stages, creator/writer
2021: Rice, (full-length play, stage), Orange Tree Theatre and Actors Touring Company, UK premiere, creator/writer
2021: Squishy Taylor and the City-wide Ghost Plague (interactive children’s adventure played at home), Melbourne Fringe Festival, co-creator/performance text writer
2021: Single ladies (full-length play, stage), Red Stitch Theatre, creator/writer
2020-21: Broth Bitch (full-length play told as 7 x fictional podcasts), online, creator/writer and lead artist
2020-21: Single ladies now (3 x audio monologues), Red Stitch Theatre, creator/writer
2020: Hungry Ghosts (TV series, 4 x 1-hour drama), Matchbox Productions, broadcaster SBS, co-writer episode 4
2020: Retrograde, (TV series, 6 x 30-minute comedy), Unless Pictures and Orange Entertainment Inc, broadcaster ABC, co-writer episodes 4 and 5
2020: Single ladies (full-length play, stage), Red Stitch Theatre (postponed due to COVID-19), creator/writer
2019: I’m With Her (full-length play, stage), Darlinghurst Theatre, contributing writer of a short piece
2019: House Sisters (full-length play, stage), Monash University, creator/writer
2018: Refuge Hypothetical: What if? (live art), Arts House, creator/writer and lead artist
2018 & 2016: The Naked Self (live art), Arts House, co-creator/text and lead artist
2018: Going down (full-length play, stage), Malthouse Theatre and Sydney Theatre Company, creator/writer
2017: Rice (full-length play, stage), Griffin Theatre, Queensland Theatre and Hothouse Theatre, creator/writer
2016: Power plays (short play ‘Off Centre’, stage), Sydney Theatre Company, creator/writer of my short play
2015: Going and going (short play, radio), ABC Radio National, creator/witer
2012, 2013 and 2014: Talon Salon (6 x short audio plays, live art), Next Wave Festival, You Are Here Festival, Darwin Festival and ABC Radio National, creator/writer and lead artist
2012: See how the leaf people run (full-length play, radio), ABC Radio National, creator/writer
2009: Love (short play, stage), St Martins Youth Arts Centre, creator/writer of my short play
Developments
2023: Caroline’s War (TV series, drama), showrunner Steven Arriagada, New Sparta, writer
2022: Silent Retreat (podcast and TV series) created by Meg O’Connell, Unless Pictures/Audiocraft, writer
2021-22: How do I let you die? (podcast), Audiocraft, creator/writer
2021-22: Sweet AF/My Paedophile Mother (full-length play, stage), creator/writer
2021-22: Flock, (feature, drama), developed through Stage 2 of Originate, creator/writer
2021-22: Next Big Thing, (TV series, comedy), creator/writer
2019-2022: The Healing Party (full-length play, stage), adaptation of the novel by Micheline Lee, Malthouse Theatre, writer
2018-2020: Going down (TV series, comedy), based on my stage play, co-creator/writer Michele Lee, co-creator/director Leticia Caceres, producers Stephanie Westwood and Amelia Ford, executive producer Amanda Higgs
2018-19: Secret Threads (TV series, 6 x 1-hour drama), creator/producer Rebecca Ingram, co-writers Mike Jones and Michele Lee
2012-15: Moths (full length play, stage), creator/writer and lead artist
2013: Chaste (four-part play, stage), creator/writer
2010, 2012: Headshot (full length play, stage), creator/writer
2010: Roundabout (full length play, stage), creator/writer
2010: Apple (full length play, stage), creator/writer and lead artist
2009: Fall and The watering hole (2 x one-act plays, stage), creator/writer
One-off pieces
2022: The Rest Is Up To You, (audio text for interactive exhibit), Melbourne Fringe Festival and State Library of Victoria exhibition. My role was to write the audio text
2022: Official Tina Fey and Amy Poehler Welcome Speech (short piece, speech), the GRAA co-presidents for the 2022 Green Room Awards Association (GRAA) ceremony, creator/writer
2018: October – Jamal Khashoggi, The Show of the Year (short piece, stage), The Wheeler Centre, creator/writer
2015: Right one, PLAYlist (short piece, audio), Red Stitch Theatre, creator/writer
2015: Asylum (short play, stage), Apocalypse Theatre, creator/writer
2008 & 2009: The Cellar Children (short play, stage), Short & Sweet, creator/writer
Dramaturgy, script editing, story consultancy and script assessment/coverage
2025: Dramaturg for the play Sucklings by Jem Lai
2025: Story consultancy or script assessment for Australian Writers’ Guild (various scripts)
2024-25: Script editor for Bordertown Films (Over Her Dead Body)
2024-25: Script editor for Top Rock Productions and Kea Productions (Life of Kea)
2024: Story consultancy or script assessment for Australian Writers’ Guild (various scripts), Australian Plays Transform (Untold Stories), Perpetual Entertainment and Ambidextrous Content (Majesty), and Flying Bark (Yagoona)
2023: Dramaturgy, story consultancy or script assessment for Alan Nguyen (Centaurs), Thumper Pictures (A Lonely Girl is a Dangerous Thing), Antipodes Theatre Company (Winter Lab), Hatch Films (Bad Debt), Australian Writers’ Guild (various scripts)
2022: Story consultancy and script assessment for Unruly Productions (White Fever), Australian Writers’ Guild (various scripts), Script to Screen (various scripts), New Sparta (UK) (Caroline’s War), Unless Pictures/Audiocraft (Silent Retreat)
2021: Story consultancy and script assessment for Seven Studios/Amazon Prime (Back to the Rafters), Unruly Productions (White Fever), Fremantle/Echo Lake (USA) (The Voysey Inheritance), Lara Kose (Yaz Queens), Hatch Films (Eco Marines), Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre (script assessment) and Melbourne Theatre Company (script assessment)
2020: Dramaturg for the musical Miss Saigon Wrong by Chi Nguyen
2020: Story consultancy for Werner Film Productions (Sickos) and Unless Pictures (Apollo)
2019: Dramaturg session for the play Buried Kingdom by Kim Ho
2015: Concept development for the play Dan Choi by Daniel Han
2014: Script consultant for the live art work Home by Brienna Macnish
2012: Treatment and early draft for the play The Colour White by Gorkem Acaroglu
Awards
2024: Shoulder, Finalist, Griffin Award
2024: Squishy Taylor and the City-wide Ghost Plague, Honorable Mention, Freeplay Awards
2022: Single Ladies, Green Room Awards, finalist, Best Performer
2021: Squishy Taylor and the City-wide Ghost Plague, finalist, Best Work in Festival, Melbourne Fringe Festival
2020: Security, finalist, Patrick White Playwrights’ Award
2019: Going down, finalist, Australian Writers’ Guild Best Original Stage Play
2019: Going down, finalist, New South Wales Premier’s Literary Award, Nick Enright Prize
2019: Going down, five nominations, 2018 Green Room Awards, Best Writing, Best Performer, Best Ensemble, Best Set/Costume/AV, Best Direction
2019: Going down, finalist, Victorian Premier’s Literary Award, Drama
2018: Rice, winner, Australian Writers’ Guild Best Original Stage Play
2018: Rice, finalist, NSW Premier’s Literary Award, Nick Enright Prize for Playwriting
2018: Rice, winner, Victorian Premier’s Literary Award, Drama
2016: Rice, winner, 2016-17 Queensland Premier’s Drama Award
2015: Going down, awarded the Malcolm Robertson Prize
2013: See how the leaf people run, winner, Australian Writers’ Guild Best Original Radio Play
2013: Moths, Highly Commended for the Griffin Theatre Award & recipient of inaugural Betty Burstall Commission through Playwriting Australia
2010: Headshot, special judges’ mention, R E Ross Trust Script Development Award
2008: The Cellar Children, nominated for Best Dramatic Writing, Short + Sweet Melbourne
I have been awarded funding numerous times from the Australia Council, Creative Victoria and local councils.
Residencies, fellowships and programs
2025: New Works program, Canberra Theatre Centre, recipient
2024: McGraith House residency, invited resident
2024: Leah Ryan Boost Fund commission, finalist
2023: National Library of Australia Creative Fellowship, shortlisted applicant
2023: Untold Stories, Australian Plays Transform, selected participant
2022: Writers Journey, Netflix ANZ, invited participant
2022: Digital Originals, SBS/NiTV/Screen Australia, selected recipient
2022: Duologues, Australian Plays Transform, selected recipient
2021: ORIGINATE program (Stage Two, Lab), Film Victoria/SBS/Arena Media, selected participant
2021: Sidney Myer Creative Fellowship recipient for 2022 and 2023
2021: ORIGINATE program (Stage One, Writers Seminar), Film Victoria/SBS/Arena Media, selected participant
2021: Shortlisted, Jesse Cox Audio Fellowship
2021: Shortlisted, ABC Me Kaleidoscope program
2020: On Air Audible/Australian Writers’ Guild funding recipient
2020: Vitalstatistix, Adhocracy digital residency, selected participant
2019: AFTRS Talent Camp, selected participant
2018-19: INK development program, Red Stitch Theatre, selected writer
2018: Malthouse Theatre, Tower Resident
2018: Footscray Community Arts Centre, Call to Create Resident
2017: Co-writer in residence, Union House Theatre, University of Melbourne
2016: Malthouse Theatre, Co.Lab artist
2016: The Playwrights’ Center Resident, Minneapolis, USA
2016: WrICE Early Career Fellow, China and Melbourne
2014-15: Malthouse Theatre’s Besen Family Foundation’s writers’ workshop member
2014: Hothouse Theatre Guest Resident
2012: Storylab participant
2012-13: Arts Start recipient through the Australia Council
2010: Ian Reed Foundation Resident, Radio National
2009: Asialink Literature Resident, based in Laos
Mentoring, judging and teaching
2024: Guest lecturer, 6-week Scriptwriting unit, RMIT
2024: Presenter, La Mama Pathways
2024: Assessor, Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre
2024: Guest teacher, VCA
2024: Guest lecturer, VCA
2024: Assessor, Emerging Writers Award, Australian Writers’ Guild
2023: Mentor, Australian Plays Transform, Lutruwita/Tasmanian Voices
2023: Guest lecturer, 6-week Scriptwriting unit, RMIT
2023: Presenter, La Mama Pathways
2023: Mentor, Thea Jade, New Ideas Lab, Canberra Theatre Centre
2023: Assessor, Australian Plays Transform
2023: Guest workshop facilitator, week-long playwriting lab, VCA
2022: Workshop presenter, She Writes, Theatreworks
2022: Industry guest, Creative Project unit for Bachelor of Arts (Creative Writing), RMIT
2022: Judge, Shane and Cathryn Brennan Prize, Youth category
2022: Guest lecturer, VCA
2022: Guest lecturer, Spark Youth Theatre
2021: Guest speaker, The Royal Central School Of Speech & Drama, UK
2021: Judge, Australian Writers’ Guild, TV (4 hrs+)
2021: Mentor, guest speaker, Radical Acts Festival, Theatre Works
2021: Guest presenter, Masterclasses, To The Front, Static Drive Co
2021: Guest lecturer, VCA
2021: Assessor, New Voices Commission, Melbourne Fringe Festival
2020-1: Mentor, Arts Lab, Shopfront Theatre
2020: Mentor, The Hatch Lab, musical theatre residency, Salty Theatre
2020: Guest presenter, Masterclasses, Australian Theatre for Young People
2020: Judge, Griffin Award
2020: Judge, Australian Writers’ Guild, Best Original Radio Drama
2020: Judge, Australian Writers’ Guild, Best Youth Theatre
2020: Guest lecturer, VCA
2020: Judge, NSW Premier’s Drama Award, Nick Enright Prize
2019: Script assessor, Queensland Premier’s Drama Award
2019: Consultant, Creative Victoria, theatre panel
2019: Judge, Australian Writers’ Guild, Best Original Radio Drama
2019: Mentor, Women in Theatre program, Melbourne Theatre Company
2018-19: Mentor, The Next Chapter, The Wheeler Centre
2018: Script mentor, City of Melbourne Signal program
2018: Judge, Patrick White Playwrights’ Award
2017: Script assessor, Queensland Premier’s Drama Award
2017: Script assessor, Playwriting Australia
2017: Judge, Australian Writers’ Guild, Best Original Radio Drama
2017: Mentor and tutor, Australian Theatre for Young People, National Studio
2016: Script mentor, The Ribcage Collective
2016: Script assessor, Lotus program, Playwriting Australia and Contemporary Asian Australian Performance
2015: Presenter, Writing for audio workshop, Writers’ Centre Victoria
Books and other writing
I have written prose and other non-play forms for many years. This includes writing for Women of Letters, The Wheeler Centre, ABC Online, Griffith Review and, a long time ago, for that excellent youth literary publication, Voiceworks.
My creative non-fiction memoir, Banana Girl, is published through Transit Lounge.
I am a PhD creative practice research candidate with RMIT through the School of Media and Communication.
Memberships
Australian Writers’ Guild
Community and Public Sector Union