Oh hey!

Thanks for taking the time to get to know me 🙂

Performer

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Playwright

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Set Designer

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Director

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Puppeteer

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Performer ✷ Playwright ✷ Set Designer ✷ Director ✷ Puppeteer ✷

In short, I am a story teller and a theatre maker. I love to make theatre that pushes the boundaries of how we tell stories. Theatre that brings together striking imagery, clever design, beautifully choreographed movement and ensemble.

When I’m not performing on-stage as an actor, you’ll find me behind the scenes hustling as a director, playwright and set designer. I have also discovered a new found passion for puppetry.

In 2020, I co-founded independent theatre-company Hand Pulled Collective, with Natalya Mandich-Dohnt. Together we aim to bring stories from our communities to the stage through powerful visual theatre.

Talia x

Résumé

A selection of some of my work

  • Dani and the Age of Wonder – Playwright & Deviser, 2021-present (in development)
    Previously developed with: Capital E’s National Creative Residency, (2022), Oryza’s Asian Playwriting Lab (2022), and Proudly Asian Theatre’s Intermediate Playwriting Class with Ahi Karunaharan (2021)

    A Slow Burlesque by Freya Silas Finch - Set Designer, 2024 - Silo Theatre; Basement Theatre Mainspace

    Body Story by Xin Ji - Set Designer, 2025 - Pride Elevates; Q Loft

    A Short History of Asian New Zealand Theatre by Nathan Joe - Set Designer, 2024 - Punctum Productions; Basement Theatre Mainspace

    Fleurtsy and the Boys (Development Season) – Director, 2022 - Writer: Renee Liang; Producer: Natalya Mandich-Dohnt

    This Room is an Island (contemporary dance) – Writer and Dramaturge, 2022 - Black Box Theatre; Choreographer: Yin-Chi Lee

    To check out my featured theatre projects, click here.

  • Do it Over (Music Video) - Art Director, 2024 - Written and Performed by ADV, Directed by Chye-Lyng Huang, Procrastination Productions

    Continuum (Interactive Game), 2018

    Tangita i Tāngita (Interactive Installation), 2019

    To Grow Roots Where They Land 落地⽣根 (Installation), 2021 - commissioned by Britomart for Chinese New Year

    Whale Tale: 新金山 New Gold Mountain (Art), 2022 - commissioned by Britomart for Whale Tales Auckland Art Trail

    GeoAR Games & InGame - Game Designer, Scriptwriter and Project Manager,
2020-2022

  • For a full list of my performance credits, please visit my agent’s page here.

  • Springboard Award for Theatre gifted by The NZ Players Trust, Arts Foundation, 2025

    Playmarket’s Playwrights b4 25 2022 Winner for ‘Pork and Poll Taxes’

    Adam New Zealand Play Award Finalist 2021 for ‘Pork and Poll Taxes’

    Playmarket’s Asian Ink, 2020, for ‘Pork and Poll Taxes’

    Best Design Awards 2020 Finalist for ‘Tangita i Tāngita‘,
Student Public Good category

    Best Design Awards 2019 Gold Pin Winner for ‘Continuum‘,
Student Public Good category

  • I haven’t had what you call a ‘formal’ education in theatre, but I’ve learned so much from these amazing initiatives and companies:

    2-Month Artist Residency, Papermoon Puppet Theatre, Yogyakarta, 2024

    Massive Nui Ensemble, Massive Theatre Company, 2023-2024

    Next Gen Programme, Indian Ink, 2023

    Creative Technologies from Auckland University of Technology, 2017-2019