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New Earth Theatre

National touring production and training hub for British East and Southeast Asian theatre.

07/09/2026

✅ First day of rehearsals for The Hungry Ghost 🍊🍑

Save the date next month and join us for a sexy q***r horror rom-com about superstition, secret lovers and accidentally inviting a hungry ghost on the first night of ghost month...

Starring Olivier Award nominee Mei Mac and Bridgerton’s Isabella Wei, The Hungry Ghost is the debut play from Mei Leng Yew, directed by New Earth Theatre Artistic Director Ailin Conant.

🗓️1 - 31 Oct
🎟️ https://www.bushtheatre.co.uk/event/the-hungry-ghost/

Presented by New Earth Theatre in association with Bush Theatre

03/09/2026

Building on the success of our Twisted Roots seed commissioning programme in 2025, we’ve partnered with Sheffield Theatres for Open Works Festival 2026. As part of the festival, the BESEA artists and companies we have been supporting will present work from 28 Sep – 10 Oct.

🎉 Here’s the lineup:

⭐Jack and Gill (rehearsed reading)
By Grace Waga Glevey
Mon 28 Sep, 1pm

⭐Tofu (work in progress)
By Ke Li
Wed 30 Sep, 2pm

⭐ Common Names: A Taxonomy of Fish and Citizens (scratch performance)
By Nam Huh
Mon 5 Oct, 4.30pm

⭐Not That Asian (work in progress)
by Not That Asian Theatre
Tue 6 Oct, 6.30pm

https://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/category/open-works-festival-events

27/08/2026

⚔️ Samurai Othello: Sharing and Discussion

Drawing inspiration from the real life of African samurai Yasuke, along with The Globe, we present a work-in-progress sharing of Samurai Othello, set in medieval Japan as part of the Shakespeare and Race Festival 2026.

This project delves into what new meanings and ideas could emerge when Shakespeare meets Samurai, both as a popular culture genre and part of Japanese cultural history.

Join us to see extracts of the play in development and stay for a panel discussion with the cast, creatives, and cultural collaborators to help shape the future direction of the piece.

📍Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare's Globe
🗓️ Tue 20 Oct, 7pm
🎟️ Tickets: £8 (including transaction fee)

🔗 Find out more: https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on/samurai-othello/

24/08/2026

📸 A sneak peek at the photoshoot for The Hungry Ghost, our next production in association with Bush Theatre

See ya at the Bush in October 🥭🍑🍊

👅 The Hungry Ghost by Mei Leng Yew
directed by Ailin Conant
🗓️ 1 - 31 Oct
🎟️ Book here: https://www.bushtheatre.co.uk/event/the-hungry-ghost/

📷 Concept by Émilie Chen.
Photography by Sebastian Nevols
First Assistant - Oscar Yoosenijad
Digital Operator - Marija Vainilaviciute
Second Assistant - Olivia White
Make-up Artist - Joey Choy
PA - Sara Fickerova

13/08/2026

We've had a stunning summer with 5 New Earth Academies in Greater Manchester, York and London. It’s always special to meet so many new BESEA’s across the UK, see their talent flourish and support their development as actors and theatre makers.

Massive thanks to our brilliant course leaders: Broderick Chow, James Cooney, Mingyu Lin and Houmi Miura.

The summer Academies were supported by our partners: Lowry, York Theatre Royal and The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.

Photos by Ikin Yum Photography and Anh Do.

10/08/2026

At our Performers Academy Plus Showcase we officially awarded Ashleigh Lai the 2026 Constellation Creatives Bursary 🎉

Congratulations, Ashleigh!

Ashleigh Lai (she/her) is a graduating actor of Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (BA Hons Acting, 3 years, 2023-2026). She recently performed in Feral Threads at New Diorama Theatre, written by Rebecca Jade Hammond and directed by Patricia Logue. She is also currently filming on a limited series over the summer/autumn.

“Wow. Receiving the Constellations Creatives Bursary is a wonderful proud moment to honour the last three years of drama school. As I enter my next chapter, I feel grateful to join a community full of curiosity, presence and talent. New Earth Theatre, thank you for creating a space where we can celebrate our Asian heritage. I’m excited to join a new wave of voices and proud to be a part of something so special.”

The bursary is funded by Orion Lee and awarded by New Earth Theatre.

09/07/2026

🎭 Theatre Makers Academy Liverpool
Course Dates: 13 Oct – 17 Nov
Location: Everyman & Playhouse theatres
Course Leader: Jen Tan
Experience Level: Beginner (no previous experience required)

🗓️ Deadline to apply: Fri 31 Jul at 10am
🔗 Link in bio to find out more and apply (under Training)

07/07/2026

Last week we kicked off our first Academy with the Theatre Makers Greater Manchester cohort!

Special thanks to Houmi Miura for leading the academy and 鄭佩嘉 circus fun x 小丑阿橙×馬戲校園 Ailin Conant and Max Lee for joining and chatting with us.

Thank you LOWRY for hosting us for the week!

24/06/2026

📚 Interested in reading and/or listening to excerpts of new climate plays by BESEA playwrights? Want to join our next BESEA Reads? Come along to our next session in July!

BESEA Reads is a series of free informal play reading and discussion sessions exploring contemporary BESEA approaches to the traditional Western theatre canon, as well as the wider ESEA and diaspora ESEA theatre canon. Our next session will be a special edition geared towards helping BESEA playwrights who are applying for the Climate Playwriting Prize. Over two days, we will read 8 excerpts of plays being submitted for the prize and provide feedback.

💻 Deadline to express interest: Thu 9 July at 4pm
📆 Tue 14 - Wed 15 July, 10.30am - 4pm
📍Our offices in London Bridge

🔗 Sign up and find out more: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeH6JgcqDijYmVjKHzyGl7yCDRzniNIUB9RudNDjw2FFGSSOw/viewform

19/06/2026

🥁 NEW additions to our 2026 season 🎉

🎭 Creative Programme:
Oct 1-31: The Hungry Ghost
Tickets on sale for Mei Leng Yew’s sexy horror rom-com Bush Theatre

🚀Artist Development:
Jul 2: Climate X Musical Theatre
Workshop w/ for 25 music/theatre artists from diverse backgrounds to explore musical theatre about climate change & migration

🌱 Sector Development:
2026 Constellation Winner: 🎉 the £1,000 prize brings the best BESEA performance graduate into an audition panel with heads of casting National Theatre Royal Shakespeare Company BBC

Jul 13-14: Table Reads - Climate Playwriting Prize edition
For BESEA writers submitting to Climate Playwriting Prize and want to hear their work & gain feedback

Jul 18: Inter-Waves Bagri Foundation Kakilang
Sector leaders presenting panels on international collaboration in theatre & live art between UK & Asia

Oct 20: Shakespeare and Race Festival by Shakespeare's Globe
Tickets go on sale at the end of June

📢 The rest of our previously announced season:

🎭 Creative Programme:
[PAST] Heartwood: collaboration between curious directive/49 Elm Hill Norfolk & Norwich Festival NHS Blood and Transplant & New Earth

James Robson: our year-round interactive, promenade experience at Cutty Sark & Royal Museums Greenwich

🚀Artist Development:
Academies: 7 free courses across the UK for BESEA theatre makers developing skills in performing, devising, writing & self-producing. In partnership with Royal Central London LOWRY York Theatre Royal Everyman & Playhouse theatres Welcome HOME Birmingham Hippodrome Factory International

Open Works Festival: partnering with Sheffield Theatres to commission local BESEA artists to create new work

BESEA Artist Hubs: workshops, play readings, 1-1 mentoring, artist support surgeries & networking events

🌱 Sector Development:
Deadline Sep 1: Climate Playwriting Prize Shakespeare's Globe Climate Spring Fern Culture. As an Associate Partner, we will help with shortlisting & BESEA writing development

🛠️ PLUS R&Ds & table reads for our work w/ Zoo Co Headlong Shakespeare's Globe Everyman & Playhouse theatres

Address

46 Oxford Drive
London
SE12FB

Website

https://linktr.ee/NewEarthTheatre

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