EAST x BBC Writers Mentorship Scheme
AJ Yi
Writer
AJ Yi is a queer, mixed-race Chinese writer based in London. AJ trained through the Soho Theatre Writer’s Lab in 2018 where they wrote LOVE SONGS, a one-person show; which debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe and transferred to Soho Theatre. It received Guardian Pick of the Fringe, was nominated for two comedy awards and the Tony Craze Award. In 2023 their debut play A PLAYLIST FOR THE REVOLUTION – a rom com taking place against the backdrop of the 2019 Hong Kong Protests – was commissioned by and premiered at the Bush Theatre. AJ was nominated for an Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre, an Off-West End Award for Most Promising New Playwright, and PLAYLIST was selected as one of the The Stage’s top shows of the year. AJ developed their first TV pilot through the BBC Writersroom Drama Room development scheme in 2020, and progressed onto the BBC TV Drama Writer’s Programme in 2021. In 2021, AJ was part of the writers’ room for the adaptation of Dolly Alderton’s book EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT LOVE (BBC One / Working Title), and EVERYTHING NOW (Netflix / Leftbank Pictures). More recently they have worked on additional writer’s rooms with Leftbank, Working Title, Brock Media and Warp Films; with a focus on comedy drama, YA, and thriller. AJ currently has multiple original projects in development for stage and screen.
AJ’s Mentor is Rachelle Constant