JEAN TONG
​
​Writer/Director

Jean Tong is a Melbourne-based writer, dramaturg and director.   They are the 2023 Melbourne Theatre Company Playwriting Fellow and are under commission to write a new play for the company.

​Jean is currently developing their original slate with SBS. Their new musical FLAT EARTHERS: THE MUSICAL (with Lou Wall and James Gales) premieres at Griffin Theatre Company and Hayes Theatre Co later this year.  They have a film in development with Photoplay which is a screen adaptation of a novel.

Jean wrote episode 3 on HEART BREAK HIGH Season 2 for Netflix produced by Fremantle; episode 2 of SAFE HOME for SBS produced by Kindling Pictures; and episode 10 of EROTIC STORIES also for SBS and produced by Lingo Pictures.  They wrote two episodes for 100% WOLF S2 for Flying Bark/ABC and 2 episodes of the online series VAG OF HONOUR.  They have worked in numerous writers’ rooms, and as the script co-ordinator for NEW GOLD MOUNTAIN with Goalpost Pictures and SBS.

Their play HUNGRY GHOSTS premiered mainstage at Melbourne Theatre Company in 2019.  Their musical ROMEO IS NOT THE ONLY FRUIT (which they also directed) after a smash hit premiere was remounted at Malthouse for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and then toured to Brisbane Festival and regionally.  ROMEO IS NOT THE ONLY FRUIT was nominated for both Best Writing and Best Ensemble at the 2019 Green Room Awards. In 2020, Jean was a Philip Parson’s Writing Fellow at Belvoir Theatre, where they wrote CHASING ELEVATION.

Jean was selected for Film Vic’s Plot Twist programme and by Screen Australia to be part of their Developing the Developer initiative, which aims to increase the pool of experts in the field of story development.  In 2020, Jean was supported by Film Vic to undertake a 10-week industry placement on NEW GOLD MOUNTAIN with SBS and Goalpost Pictures. Jean was the Development Assistant at Goalpost Pictures from 2019 to 2021.

As a director, Jean’s work includes the critically acclaimed season of CAUGHT by Christopher Chen at Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre as well as the premiere of new Australian work OH NO! SATAN STOLE MY PINEAL GLAND! by Kirby Medway for Melbourne Fringe Festival.

Melbourne Theatre Company granted Jean the Robert Macdonald Professional Development Award. They have also received the Murray Sutherland Award and the University of Melbourne Global Scholar’s Award.

Jean has published in Peril Magazine and Meanjin (Spike) and presented at the Emerging Writers' Festival. They hold a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Melbourne with a double major in English and Theatre Studies, and Criminology. During their second year, they studied at King’s College London. They have completed a Masters in Writing for Performance at the Victorian College of the Arts.