Jean Tong is a writer and director making work for stage and screen that is queer, irreverent, and genre-bending.
Their brain is full of worms that want you to laugh and cry at all the wrong times.
In 2025, Jean was selected by Australians in Film and Screen Australia to take part in their Talent Gateway program, where they are developing their original pitches BETA MALE (series) and ELF HARM (feature). They are also an Associate Artist at Melbourne Theatre Company, where they directed the world premiere of Benjamin Law’s adaptation of DYING: A MEMOIR in 2025.
Jean’s TV credits include episode 3 for Netflix’s HEARTBREAK HIGH (Season 2), episode 2 on SAFE HOME (SBS), episode “MASC UP” on anthology series EROTIC STORIES (SBS), and two episodes on ABC’s 100% WOLF (S2). They were also the Script Coordinator for NEW GOLD MOUNTAIN (SBS).
For theatre, they’ve written: FLAT-EARTHERS: THE MUSICAL (Griffin Theatre and Hayes Theatre Co), HUNGRY GHOSTS (Melbourne Theatre Company), CAESAR (La Boite Theatre), and ROMEO IS NOT THE ONLY FRUIT, and a Best Writing & Best Ensemble nominee (Green Room Awards 2019). They also directed Christopher Chen’s CAUGHT at Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre, and the premiere of new Australian work OH NO! SATAN STOLE MY PINEAL GLAND! by Kirby Medway for Melbourne Fringe Festival.
Jean was the inaugural 2023 Melbourne Theatre Company NEXT STAGE Playwriting Fellow, and the Belvoir Theatre Philip Parson’s Writing Fellow in 2020. They were also the Development Assistant at Goalpost Pictures from 2019 to 2021.
Jean is directing a new musical – A Transgender Woman on the internet, Crying – scheduled to open early 2026.