Local writer Chi Vu (pictured) has been awarded City of Greater Geelong grants for her professional
development and to help her write a play inspired by early Chinese migrants to Geelong.
Last year, a Professional Development and Skills Share grant enabled Chi to travel to Southern
Taiwan to work with New Vision New Voices Youth Theater to foster skills and undertake a cultural
exchange. This year, an Arts Projects grant will enable her to develop a script inspired by early
Chinese migrants to Geelong in 1910, Ham Hop and Poon Gooey.
Chi is a writer, drama facilitator and researcher with an interest in bilingual creativity.
“I love all things to do with storytelling and creativity,” she said. “I’ve worked with a wide range of
cultural institutions, including Arts Centre Melbourne, La Mama, Multicultural Arts Victoria,
Contemporary Asian Australian Performance, Footscray Community Arts Centre, Arts House, Theatre
Works, Platform Arts (Geelong), Cloud Gate Theater (Taipei).”
Chi has designed and co-facilitated workshops for the participants of Back to Back Theatre’s Theatre
of Speed and CAMP and Geelong Arts Centre. She also taught scriptwriting at Deakin University and
holds a PhD in creative writing from Victoria University.
“I grew up in Melbourne and moved to Geelong about a decade ago,” Chi said. “Like many people
who move to a new city as an adult, I became fascinated with my new hometown and began reading
about its history.
“With the support of GAC’s Launchpad 2.0 and the City of Greater Geelong, I’m writing a new play,
1910 The Charm Campaign. It’s wildly anachronistic, with plenty of nods to contemporary society. I
hope my play contributes to Geelong’s vibrant arts scene and provides opportunities for diverse
actors.
“While the play centres on a Chinese-Australian couple trying to resist the White Australia Policy, in
my version their story unfolds in an Australia that’s populated by all sorts of folk who are diverse in
terms of ethnicity, class, sexuality, ability or neurodiversity – even if our history books tend to show
otherwise.
“I hope it gives us a chance to share stories and reflect on how far we may have come, or not. And to
be in the same space experiencing the same performance.”