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About me

Four collaged pics of Jen wearing a white t-shirt and black overalls, posing for headshots. She is a smiling pākehā woman with shoulder length dark blonde hair.

Nō Peretānia rāua Aerana ōku tīpuna
I whānau mai ahau ki Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai
I tipu ake au i raro i te maru o ngā maunga Remutaka
I tipu ake au i te taha o te awa Kairangi
Kei te noho ahau i Te Motu Kairangi
Ko Jennifer O'Sullivan ahau.
Kei te mihi ki Te Atiawa me Taranaki, te mana whenua o te rohe nei
Kei te mihi ki ngā tohu o te rohe nei
Nō reira, tēnā koutou katoa.

What I do

I am an award-winning improvisor, director and creative producer in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. With an MFA in Creative Practice from Te Herenga Waka Victoria University, I am the co-founder and director of Locomotive, the creative lead for Kickin’ Rad Productions, the former director of the New Zealand Improv Festival, and the current chair of the NZ Improv Trust.

I love improvisation that brings joy to audiences and performers alike. It could be comedy, drama, sci-fi, soap, experimental, slapstick - as long as the players are lit up by what they're making, and the audience is getting what they were promised (or more!) then I'm into it. I've particularly enjoyed working on solo improv and theatre, musical improv, improvised soap operas, and literary-inspired improv. I love to coach improvisors to get out of their own way, help them get past whatever's blocking joy in their work, to fine-tune their performance and watch them really shine.

Outside of improv and production, I have a bit of a jack-of-all-trades work history - I've been a venue manager (Fringe at the Gryphon), box office manager (BATS), crowdfunding advisor (Pledge Me), customer support (Trade Me), trust and safety officer (also Trade Me), stand-up comedian, MC, set designer, lighting operator, IT support, web admin, temp researcher at Wētā Workshop, Cobb 'n Co waitress and a pro wrestler. At university I studied chemistry, Spanish, linguistics, English literature, and theatre. As of 2025 I hold a Level 4 ECE qualification through Playcentre, where I am a kaiāko and kaiārahi (parent teacher and centre leader).

I like to think that variety and experience lends itself well to my current role of full-time parent, part-time improvisor. It's strengthened my flexibility and widened my perspective, and added to my listening, communication and ability to hit the ground running in a new project.

When I'm not working on cool improv and theatre projects, I'm hanging out with my pets and my kids and making sure no one eats too much grass.

Awards & Nominations

  • 2024
    • Winner: Outstanding Ensemble | Tarot (Director/Performer) | NZ Improv Festival
  • 2021
    • Nominated: Outstanding Solo Performer | Matt Powell for The History Boy (Director) | NZ Fringe Festival
    • Winner: Oustanding Show | The Dive (Director/Performer) | NZ Improv Festival
  • 2020
    • Winner: Sydney Tour Ready Award | Deep & Meaningful (Director) | NZ Fringe Festival
  • 2019
    • Winner: Adelaide Tour Ready Award | HarleQueen (Producer) | NZ Fringe Festival
  • 2018
    • Nominated: Outstanding Ensemble | Awkward Threesome (Performer) | NZ Fringe Festival
  • 2017
    • Shortlisted: Playmarket's Plays for the Young | The Sleeping Princess by Jennifer O'Sullivan and Matt Powell
    • Awarded: MA Fine Arts (CP) Scholarship
  • 2016
    • Winner: Tastiest Show | Awkward Threesome (Producer/Performer) | NZ Fringe Festival
  • 2015
    • Nominated: Best Improv | 13 – A Soap | NZ Fringe Festival
    • Nominated: Best Improv | Definitely Not Witches | NZ Fringe Festival
    • Nominated: Outstanding Ensemble | 13 – A Soap | NZ Fringe Festival
  • 2014
    • Winner: Spirit of the Fringe | NZ Fringe Festival | Shared with James Nokise