Jude is a director, writer, theatre-maker and dramaturg and has worked with many of the country’s leading theatre institutions creating bold, new adaptations and original pieces. Jude has been a regular contributor to our Academy courses in the North West and we are delighted that over the next 12 months she will be working with us on a creative research and development project exploring the forced repatriation of Chinese merchant Seaman in Liverpool following the end of WW2.

The New Earth Theatre Fellowship sets out to build on from our successful Professional Writers Programme. A BESEA writer or theatre-maker will work in partnership with a leading regional venue to develop a piece in conversation with their local community for an eventual co-production. This has been launched thanks to the generous support from the Robert H N Ho Family Foundation Global and project venue partner; Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse.

As Lead Artist and Fellow, Jude has just rounded off her first stage of research with a creative week of workshops with Liverpool artists Nadia Anim, Pei Yee Tong, Dan Chan, Fenfen Huang, Donald Shek and Sufea Mohamad Noor. Each artist brought their own practice and expertise to co-explore some of the many themes and issues raised by this story.

We are planning to expand the programme and welcome further Fellows throughout the next two years so we can connect with more communities and venues.