Inner West Drama takes the stage
- 12 hours ago
- 3 min read
From First Steps to Centre Stage, How Marrickville’s Inner West Drama Is Inspiring the Next Generation of Performers
Inner West Drama is the education arm of Flight Path Theatre and has been building creativity, confidence, and connection since 2013.
For more than a decade, Inner West Drama has been helping people of all ages discover the confidence, creativity and connection that come from stepping into the spotlight. Based at Flight Path Theatre, which is located within The Addison Rd Community Centre, Marrickville, the not-for-profit arts organisation has become a much-loved part of the Inner West community since it was founded by performing arts professionals Kate Bookallil and Siobhan Lawless.
Two Decades of Experience
Drawing on more than 20 years of industry experience each, Bookallil and Lawless continue to guide the organisation’s creative vision, creating programs that welcome everyone from complete beginners to seasoned performers. Today, Inner West Drama offers classes for children, teenagers and adults, while also delivering after-school programs across 10 local primary schools.
What sets Inner West Drama apart is its belief that drama is about much more than performance. While students learn acting techniques and stagecraft, they are also developing confidence, communication skills, empathy, resilience and creative thinking. The organisation’s professional teaching artists, who actively work across theatre, film and television, create supportive environments where students are encouraged to take creative risks, find their voice and build meaningful connections.
For children, classes focus on imagination, storytelling, teamwork and self-expression. Young people learn to collaborate, solve problems and trust their ideas while having plenty of fun along the way. Teenagers can explore drama, improvisation, screen acting and musical theatre while building friendships and confidence during what can be a challenging stage of life. Many students begin as children and stay involved right through high school, growing alongside a supportive creative community. Some have even returned years later as members of the teaching team.
Upcoming Shows
A highlight of the year is The Annual Show Off, a large-scale community showcase held every September at Flight Path Theatre. Young performers take to the stage across multiple days, celebrating their achievements in front of family, friends and the wider community. Teen students also perform in the annual Teen Revue, while specialist screen acting and filmmaking courses provide opportunities to explore performance beyond the stage.
The organisation’s Youth Musical program has quickly become another standout offering. Now in its second year, it gives aspiring performers aged 8 to 16 the chance to experience every aspect of creating a musical production, from auditions and rehearsals through to a fully staged season. This year’s production, Disney’s The Little Mermaid JR., opens in July and is shaping up to be one of the highlights of the 2026 season.
Adults are equally encouraged to embrace their creativity. Progressive 10-week courses culminate in public performances at Flight Path Theatre, offering participants the chance to challenge themselves, build confidence and experience the thrill of live theatre. Many return term after term for the friendships, personal growth and joy of creative play.
Making Theatre Accessible
Committed to making theatre accessible to all, Inner West Drama also runs Worthy, a community drama program for adults with disability. Supported by Inner West Council, the initiative celebrates creative expression, social connection and the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to tell their story.
Asked what she is most proud of, co-founder Siobhan Lawless says: “Watching how drama, and the community that comes with it, can support kids, teens & adults through good & tough times and bring joy and confidence into their lives.”
Thousands of local residents have participated in Inner West Drama’s programs over the years, creating a vibrant, intergenerational community where people feel welcome, supported and inspired. As a not-for-profit organisation, it continues to rely on community support, partnerships and funding to keep programs accessible and affordable—ensuring that creativity, confidence and connection remain at the heart of the Inner West for years to come.