Created as part of New Earth Theatre’s Living Archive, founders of New Earth Theatre, Kwong Loke, Kumiko Mendl, David KS Tse and Tom Wu recount and reminisce on New Earth Theatre’s 30-year history, impact and legacy. Find out more about the journey from our beginnings in 1995 as Yellow Earth Theatre to our identity today, and how we continue to make strides for the British East and Southeast Asian (BESEA) community within the UK theatre industry.

‘How it All Started’ talks about how the founders of New Earth Theatre initially met. Reflecting on their beginnings and the success of their debut production ‘The Magic Paintbrush’ with Polka Theatre, the founders came together under the shared experience of being BESEA actors in a white-dominated theatre industry.

 

Filmed on 13 April 2026, at Regent’s University

Featuring: Kwong Loke, Kumiko Mendl, David KS Tse and Tom Wu

Cinematographers: Darius Shu and Curtis Lewis

Producers: Caleb Lee and Tammie Rhee

In loving memory of Veronica Needa