Jane Yonge

Jane is a New Zealand theatre director, public programmer, and arts advisor. In 2015 she graduated with a Master of Theatre Arts (MTA) in Directing from Victoria University and Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School.

Jane creates work that responds to two strands: New Zealand identity, specifically how New Zealanders deal (or fail to deal) with cultural identity. The other strand is grief, memory, and loss. Jane uses a combination of genres and theatrical forms to express these themes: comedy, satire, and psychological thrillers.

Jane’s most recent project is The Basement Tapes (Wellington Theatre Awards Best Director 2017, Scotsman Fringe First Award 2018). The Basement Tapes debuted at NZ Fringe 2017 and has since gone on to tour BATS Theatre Wellington, Melbourne Fringe Festival, Basement Theatre Auckland, and Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Jane’s other directing work includes At the Wake, by Victor Roger (Circa Theatre 2018), WEiRdO (BATS Theatre Wellington 2017, Basement Theatre Auckland 2018), Hetero-perfomative (Auckland Pride Festival, Basement Theatre 2016), and Page Turners (New Zealand Festival 2016).

In 2016, with funding from Creative New Zealand and BATS Theatre’s STAB Lab programme, Jane researched the oral histories of Haining Street, one of Wellington’s most notorious streets and potentially New Zealand’s first Chinatown. Jane is using these findings to develop a devised piece about early and contemporary New Zealand Chinese identity.

Jane is also a public programmer for Wellington City Council. Her role as public programmer is to develop support and opportunities programmes for local artists. This could be in the form of paid internships and residencies, as well as artist gatherings and public talks.

What drew you to the MA Arts Politics program?

The potential of combining and growing my two career paths as a theatre director and an arts administrator working for local government.