The Reaction Theory aims to create contemporary theatre for audiences aged 18-29 as a strategy to highlight and elevate performances of emerging and mid-career artists in Meanjin. With the support of the Jennifer Blocksidge Memorial Award sponsored by the Blocksidge Family, the company has delivered multiple productions and developments to showcase the next generation of Queensland artists. Their theatrical works strives to create intellectual and emotional responses for our audiences in order to create an open conversation about our future.

Playwright: Nathan Joe
Co-Director/Producer: Chelsea August
Co-Director/Producer: Egan Sun-Bin
Producer: Alyson Joyce
Associate Producer: Jess Bunz
Set Designer: Alex Riley
Costume Designer: Frances Foo
Sound Designer: Emma Burchell
Lighting Designer: Briana Clark
Video Designer: Imperfect Creatives
Stage and Production Manager: Petria Leong
Cultural Safety Consultant: Katrina Irawati Graham

Cast
Daphne Chen, Chris Nguyen, Peter Wood, Jazz Zhao

When emerging Queensland talent are given a platform to speak up, they inspire change. Scenes From A Yellow Peril ignited this spark, blending community stories with political urgency in a bold yet authentic way. Since its 2024 season, it has received positive reception, making a lasting impact on the Queensland’s independent theatre scene. It's sharp storytelling and fearless approach were recognised at the 2024 QLD Matilda Awards, where the cast and creatives won Best Independent Production and Best Ensemble. This production exemplifies the power of theatre to challenge, provoke, and create meaningful conversations.

We have a range of resources to support the work, including high-quality production images and promo footage of the show, both with and without review quotes. Working alongside Gold Coast Screen experts Imperfect Creatives, we plan to create vox pop interviews to capture future audience reactions and insights, adding an authentic, engaging layer to promotional materials. These assets will help showcase the production’s impact, reach new audiences, and strengthen its presence across digital and print platforms.

Going further from the production itself, we will offer engagement activities that foster deeper connections with communities in relation to the content of the show. These include interactive workshops, where participants can explore community storytelling, as well as post-show Q&A sessions to encourage dialogue around the work’s themes. Additionally, BIPOC Community Nights with discounted tickets are a non-negotiable within a performance season to ensure greater accessibility and representation for our targeted audience demographic. These initiatives will create meaningful engagement by sparking conversations, amplifying diverse voices in a safe space as well as making theatre more inclusive. Similar to the initial premier in 2024 as a reference, the legacy of Yellow Peril will be a lasting impact on local artists and audiences, inspiring future storytelling and strengthening community connections. These of course, can be negotiated and open for conversation depending on location and venue.