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Artistic Producer at the Ensemble Theatre, Claire Nesbitt Hawes (2000) shares her love for theatre, Australian works and what it takes to fulfil your dreams. Claire is pictured above with actor Ben Wood.

You graduated in 2000, what have you been doing since leaving CCGS?

After a gap year in the UK, I studied a Bachelor of International Creative Arts at Macquarie University. After returning from a directing internship in Canada, I started an independent theatre company in Sydney. I produced indie theatre for three years before taking on the role of General Manager at Ensemble Theatre in Kirribilli. I’m now Artistic Producer at Ensemble, and have been growing up my young family at the same time.

You’re now an Artistic Producer at the Ensemble Theatre, Kirribilli presenting some of the best international plays, well-loved classics and new Australian works. When you were a teenager did you ever imagine this would be your life?

I always knew I would be working in the theatre in some capacity. I fell in love with live performance very early – as a family, we went to see lots of musicals and I dreamt of being a performer. But after a stint as an Assistant Director in Canada, I realised that the behind-the-scenes work matched my skills far better and I couldn’t be happier with that slight change in career direction!

What’s been your favourite play to produce so far?

That’s like asking me to choose my favourite child! The most challenging work we produce is always the new Australian work, some of which we have nurtured to the stage from the very first words on the page. However, this work is always the most satisfying as the journey is very complex and exciting, and audiences love seeing new work for the very first time.

What do you love most about your job?

Working with an amazing group of creative people, witnessing great talent both onstage and off, and hearing the audience react with gasps, laughter and tense silence to the stories we have created on stage. 

Favourite memory of your CCGS years?

I travelled to Japan for the choir and orchestra tour at the end of 2000. It was after the HSC and I was heading off to the UK directly after. It was an amazing opportunity to see a new part of the world and the beginning of a new phase in my life. 

What is one piece of advice you would give your high school self?

Follow your passion, and keep your eyes open to new opportunities from unexpected places – or create those opportunities yourself!