left of centre
PASSION//growth//fun
Youth Drama Workshops
Who are we?
We are Abbie and Clare, co-founders of Left of Centre Theatre Co. We're passionate about empowering the next generation of theatre makers by sharing our industry knowledge with young people.
We believe access to high-quality arts education shouldn't depend on location. By fostering creativity, confidence, and connection, we help students develop the skills they need to thrive as storytellers and artists.
Our hands-on, supportive approach creates a space where young people can explore their interests, build their skills, and shape their future in the arts.
Hear from those who've been there, done that...
Meet the Team
Clare Hennessy
Clare is a playwright, sound designer, musician and performer based in Sydney who is passionate about engaging young people in the performing arts for both their well being and professional development. As a teaching artist, she tutors young people in piano and voice, sound design with youth theatre company Shopfront, and is a presenter for Australia's leading body image support not-for-profit, Butterfly Foundation.
As a playwright, her work has been produced independently throughout Australia. Her most recent work for the stage, Tongue Tied, was critically praised and is now proudly published by Playlab, alongside her debut play (produced by Left of Centre), Elegy. Her newest play Dirty Power was a finalist for the national playwrighting prize the Max Afford Award in 2024, and On The Interpretation of Dreams was awarded Highly Commended in the Silver Gull Award in 2020.
As a musician, sound designer and composer, she has worked with independent and mainstage venues across Australia including Belvoir St, Ensemble, The Q, La Boite, Newcastle Playhouse, KXT on Broadway and many more, from musicals to plays to children’s theatre. She is passionate about new Australian work, supporting emerging artists as well as beloved playwrights like David Williamson, and collaborating to create meaningful and safe creative environments.
She obtained her Master of Fine Arts (Writing for Performance) from NIDA and her BA Communication (Theatre/Media) from CSU. She has obtained a graduate certificate in Psychological Science from ACAP with distinction.
Abbie Hough
Abbie is a passionate drama educator and theatre-maker with a deep commitment to creating inclusive, empowering creative experiences—particularly for young people, and women in regional communities. She holds a Master of Teaching (Secondary Education: Drama & History) from Curtin University, a Master of Design for Live Performance from the Victorian College of the Arts, and a Bachelor of Communication (Theatre/Media) from Charles Sturt University.
Professionally, Abbie has worked as a production designer on a range of acclaimed theatre productions across New South Wales and Victoria, with credits including Land (Three Fates Theatre), You Are The Blood (Spinning Plates Co.), and Stupid Fucking Bird (Lightning Jar Theatre). Her work is driven by a passion for storytelling that centres women's voices and explores complex female experiences.
In the classroom, Abbie champions drama as a vital tool for growth and connection. She is passionate about the life skills theatre cultivates—public speaking, collaboration, empathy, confidence, and creative problem-solving—and the profound impact these skills have on young people’s mental health and wellbeing. Her teaching spaces are inclusive and dynamic, inviting students to take risks, find their voice, and build community through storytelling.
Abbie has a particular love for Shakespeare and the classics, and is dedicated to reimagining them in ways that resonate with modern audiences—especially young women. Whether in schools or on stage, her work is grounded in a belief in the transformative power of theatre to inspire, empower, and amplify underrepresented voices.