Creative Team

YANG-MAY OOI – Writer and Performer

Yang-May Ooi is a bestselling novelist (The Flame Tree and Mindgame, first published by Hodder & Stoughton) and writer/ performer. Her TEDx talk brought the audience to their feet to shout out the rallying cry from the talk “F*** the Labels!”. Described as a “touching, heartwarming” and “powerful” speaker and storyteller, she has performed her live stories  at cult storytelling clubs Spark London and The Story Party. Bound Feet Blues is her first full length story performance. www.StoryGuru.co.uk

JESSICA HIGGS – Director

Jessica Higgs was the founder and Artistic Director of In Tandem TC (2000-08) whose worked focused on difference and integration of difference in society, creating platforms for culturally diverse and unheard voices. For the company she directed an acclaimed Pinter double bill of Landscape and Mountain Language, translated and performed entirely in British Sign Language by Deaf and hearing actors, and the British Premier of Canadian, Alex Blumer’s Smudge, both at Ovalhouse. Other directing work includes: Julie McNamara’s Pigtales and Pig’s Sister (Jackson’s Lane, Ovalhouse, Theatre Workshop Edinburgh and internationally); Will Eno’s Lady Grey (Soho Theatre); Wesker’s Four Portraits – of Mothers(Bridewell Theatre). Jessica is also a voice coach working regularly at Central School of Speech & Drama, British-American Drama Academy and the Actors Centre. She co-founded with Susan Croft the influential Unfinished Histories which documents alternative theatre in Britain in the 1960s, 70s and 80s. www.JessicaHiggs.org

ELDARIN YEONG – Producer

Eldarin is a theatre producer and director, and the columnist on Theatre and Arts for UK Chinese Times newspaper. Her producing credits include: The Rites of Spring/ Romeo and Juliet (Concert Theatre National Tour),  Normal Love (Lilian Bailey, Sadler’s Wells),  Thor of the Common Man The Cockpit London), Aquatic The Cockpit London), film Atalantas (British Film Institute),The Monster in the Hall National Theatre of Scotland & Shanghai Grand Theatre) and Richard III (National Theatre of China/Globe Theatre). www.eldarin-yeong-studio.co.uk

HUA TAN – Theatre Designer

Hua Tan is an established creative lighting designer and scenographer based in London who works for theatre productions in the UK and China. Hua completed an MA in lighting design from The Central Academy of Drama in China, and an MA distinction in Scenography from The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. In her varied, successful career Hua has lit and designed for opera, drama, dance, and traditional Chinese operas. The highlights of her career to date include ‘Under The Hawthorn Tree’ (National Theatre of China), ‘Queen of coquetry’ (Shanghai Drama Art Centre) and ‘Open Country’ (Beijing Dance Academy). Her work has attracted awards and prizes including the ‘best lighting design’ at China Lotus Dance Festival, Shanghai Stage Art Society, Henan Theatre Festival, the ‘best set and lighting design’ at Guangxi Theatre Festival, and the ‘best teaching achievement’ in Shanghai Theatre Academy. Most recently Hua worked on the UK and China’s collaboration of ‘War Horse’. She’s also been involved in other London productions including ‘Be/In Particular’, ‘Living With Fear’, ‘WIMP’, and ‘Normal Love’. www.tanhuastudio.com