jessica charles
I write dark comedies and absurd realities that make you laugh. And when you wonder why you're laughing, you realize it's funny because it's true. And you're laughing to not cry or possibly to experience some joy.
Playwright | Storyteller | Cultural Worker | Creative
Jessica Charles is a Black queer storyteller whose work explores underrepresented POC and queer narratives through epic storytelling, archiving, and uplifting the magically nuanced voices of people in her communities. A descendant of enslaved folk and always searching for her heritage through art, Jessica submerges her work in Fabulism and the culture, centering joy as an act of resistance. She is proud to be born and raised in Oakland, CA, where the rich tapestry of Black people and culture, her ancestry and upbringing, shape the way she walks, talks, sees, and writes about the world. She trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and the University of California, Berkeley. Most recently, her play Antiquated F*ckery had its debut at 59E59 Theaters. Jessica was a member of National Black Theatre’s Keep SOUL Alive Micro Development Reading Series (2025-26), a finalist for the 2024–2026 NBT I AM SOUL Playwriting Residency, and an alum of the The Outrage Queer Writers Residency (2026), New Roots Queer+ Artist Summer Residency (2025), SPACE on Ryder Farm (2024), and Liberation Theater Company’s New Voices Writing Residency (2019–2020). She was also a finalist for The Lark's Van Lier New Voices Fellowship. Her other plays include Hot Girls Making Out, Geeky, "the gen-u-ine n*gga show!", The Road Trip, Inflatables, and more.
Upcoming:
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Hot Girls Making Out – A 2027 production coming to a gay bar near you ;)
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The Fire This Time Festival - NYC (2027)
Past:
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National Black Theatre’s Keep SOUL Alive Micro Development Reading Series (2025-26)
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The Outrage Queer Writers Residency (2026)
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Hot Girls Making Out by Jessica Charles; The Tank Presents Reading, May 2025
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My Black Job Productions – Producing Artist (2025)
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New Roots – Walhalla Farm, Creative Resident (2025)
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I AM SOUL Playwright Residency, Finalist – National Black Theatre (2024-26)
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Antiquated F*ckery by Jessica Charles ; 59E59 Theaters – Oct 8 - 28, 2023; Part of The Pool Plays 3.0 and 59E59's Makers Program
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Liberation Theater Company’s New Voices Writing Residency (2019–2020)
Upcoming
SEE WHAT'S IN MY FUTURE
The Outrage - A Queer Writers' Residency
2026 Playwriting Cohort
I write now because I have to.
I write because my story is important.
The people who look like me, feel like me, push through this world like me are
important.
Nuanced people, colorful people, sad people, joyful people, people just trying to survive – our stories are
important.
I write to capture the complexity in the mundane.
I write to archive.
I write to question.
I write to listen.
I write to connect.
I won’t stop writing until our voices are centered on the biggest stages in the world.
I don’t just write to see POC and/or queer people on stage. I write to tell the nuances and intricacies of our lived experiences.
I write because as a Black, queer woman, I fear if I don’t tell you my story is important and equal and resonant, it will only be a whisper to you.
And I write because I WANT TO F*CKING SHOUT!
