Photo: Victoria Scott
Me
I am an Asian-Australian writer working across theatre, live art, audio and screen. My works explore otherness, identity and found families, 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.
Current work
Upcoming work
2021: Security (full-length play, stage), Darebin Speakeasy
2021: Rice, (full-length play, stage), Orange Tree Theatre and Actors Touring Company, UK premiere
In development
Sweet AF/My Paedophile Mother (full-length play, stage)
How do I let you die? (live art), Arts House & (non-fiction podcast), Audible
Squishy Taylor and The Shrub That Went (interactive children’s adventure), directed by Brienna Macnish, designed by Clare McCracken, produced by Simon Bedford, adapted from the novels by Ailsa Wild. My role is as performance text writer
Cloud 9 (TV comedy, half hour), concept by Trudy Hellier and Michele Lee, writer Michele Lee, producer Eyvonne Carfora, funding from Film Victoria
The Healing Party (full-length play, stage), adaptation of the novel by Micheline Lee, Malthouse Theatre
Past work
Produced work
2021: Single ladies (full-length play, stage), Red Stitch Theatre
2020-21: Broth Bitch (full-length play told as 7 x fictional podcasts), online and wherever you get your podcasts
2020-21: Single ladies now (3 x audio monologues), in collaboration with Red Stitch Theatre
2020: co-writer, episode 4, Hungry Ghosts (TV series, 4 x 1-hour drama), Matchbox Productions, broadcaster SBS
2020: co-writer, episodes 4 and 5, Retrograde, (TV series, 6 x 30-minute comedy), Unless Pictures and Orange Entertainment Inc, broadcaster ABC
2020: Single ladies (full-length play, stage), Red Stitch Theatre (postponed due to COVID-19)
2019: I’m With Her (short piece contribution to a full-length play, stage), Darlinghurst Theatre
2019: House Sisters (full-length play, stage), Monash University
2018: Refuge Hypothetical: What if? (live art), Arts House
2018 & 2016: The Naked Self (live art), Arts House
2018: Going down (full-length play, stage), Malthouse Theatre and Sydney Theatre Company
2017: Rice (full-length play, stage), Griffin Theatre, Queensland Theatre and Hothouse Theatre
2016: Power plays (short play ‘Off Centre’, stage), Sydney Theatre Company
2015: Going and going (short play, radio), ABC Radio National
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
2012: See how the leaf people run (full-length play, radio), ABC Radio National
2009: Love (short play, stage), St Martins Youth Arts Centre
Developments
2018-2020: Going down (TV series, comedy), based on my stage play, writer Michele Lee, director Leticia Caceres, producers Stephanie Westwood and Amelia Ford, executive producer Amanda Higgs
2018-19: Secret Threads (TV series, 6 x 1-hour drama), producer Rebecca Ingram, co-writers Mike Jones and Michele Lee
2012-15: Moths (full length play, stage)
2013: Chaste (four-part play, stage)
2010, 2012: Headshot (full length play, stage)
2010: Roundabout (full length play, stage)
2010: Apple (full length play, stage)
2009: Fall and The watering hole (2 x one-act plays, stage)
One-off pieces
2018: October – Jamal Khashoggi, The Show of the Year (short piece, stage), The Wheeler Centre
2015: Right one, PLAYlist (short piece, audio), Red Stitch Theatre fundraiser
2015: Asylum (short play, stage), Apocalypse Theatre
2008 & 2009: The Cellar Children (short play, stage), Short & Sweet
Collaborations on other people’s projects
2021: Writers’ room, Seven Studios/Amazon Prime
2020: Dramaturg for the musical Miss Saigon Wrong by Chi Nguyen
2020: Writers’ room, Werner Film Productions, TV series, Sickos by Keir Wilkins
2020: Writers’ room, Unless Pictures, Snapchat series, Apollo by Anna Barnes
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
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 from the Australia Council, Creative Victoria and local councils.
Residencies, fellowships and programs
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, for the project Ella Seng: Alien Hunter
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 for the Home project
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, script assessment and teaching
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, Linda Chen, 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 for Keziah Warner, dramaturg/playwright, Women in Theatre program, Melbourne Theatre Company
2018-19: Mentor for Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen on her manuscript as part of The Next Chapter, The Wheeler Certre
2018: Script mentor, Lotus by Chi Nguyen
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: Writing for audio workshop facilitator, 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.
Memberships
Australian Writers’ Guild
Community and Public Sector Union