Yellow Earth rebrands for ‘new chapter’ as New Earth Theatre

British East and South East Asian theatre company Yellow Earth has announced it is relaunching as New Earth Theatre, with plans for new virtual and outdoor performances.

The company, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, said it wanted to mark a "new chapter" to create a "stronger future" for Asian voices.

Artistic director Kumiko Mendl said: "Over the past 15 years our company has been a leading voice in presenting British East and South East Asian stories, empowering our artists and our audiences as well as providing opportunities and pathways into our industry – and will remain at the heart of what we do.

"New Earth Theatre is a moment of reset for our company at a time of great change for many. No one could have predicted what this year would bring, and despite its challenges across our industry and globally, we have responded and adapted quickly."

The company set up a freelance hardship fund for British East and South East Asian artists, as well as moving its development programmes online.

As it relaunches, it is also announcing a digital short play festival, New Stories, which begins today (October 30) and includes 17 live-streamed plays, by participants of its professional writers programme.

The plays, which can be accessed by the company’s social media channels, have been created by more than 60 BESEA freelance theatremakers.

It is also announcing a phone-call performance Homeward (house) Bound by Stacy Makishi, where audiences experience the play through a one-to-one phone call between November 5 and 7, as well as its plans for the Signal Fires initiative.

Signal Fires features more than 40 theatre companies nationwide, each presenting new work in response to the challenges of physical touring during the pandemic.

New Earth Theatre will present Beyond Chinatown: A British East and South East Asian Guide to Manchester’s Past, Present and Future, which is a performance-led walking tour in Manchester, on October 31.

Mendl added: "The future of theatre is very much changing and evolving as we begin the path back to live performance, and we look forward to the integral part we can play in creating a stronger future with BESEA voices and stories being heard and told for generations to come."