about us

Vision: A world where bold storytelling and powerful artistic expression challenge, inspire, and connect audiences through thought-provoking theatre.

Mission: To stage bold, contemporary works with a focus on queer and Australian stories

Values: Authenticity, Collaboration & Empathy

Founded in March 2025, Off the Ledge Theatre was born from the desire to bring important, provocative, stories to the stage—works that speak to the heart of contemporary life and resonate with the community. The company’s inception came in the lead-up to The Almighty Sometimes, which was programmed as part of the 2025 Q the Locals season. It was in this moment that the vision became clear: to create a space where powerful, authentic narratives could thrive and leave a lasting impact on the audience.

The company’s founder, Lachlan Houen, a passionate theatre-maker with a deep love for storytelling, began his journey in the arts during high school as an actor, later finding a deeper love for directing (he was also not a great actor…). His first production, The Laramie Project, ignited an enduring commitment to the theatre, shaping his belief in the transformative power of stories. From the outset, Off the Ledge Theatre was built on the idea of collaboration, bringing together a diverse and talented community of artists to create work that is both bold and deeply meaningful. A strong focus on Australian voices, queer identity, and authentic storytelling drives the company’s artistic direction, ensuring each production reflects the complexities of modern life and sparks conversations that matter.

Person with red hair sitting on tile floor, holding a yellow balloon with a string, against a black background.

Image: Photox - Canberra Photography

Who we are

  • A person with long dark hair and a black shirt against a light background.

    Lachlan Houen

    A director, lighting designer, producer, actor and marketing manager currently based on Ngunnawal/Ngambri Land.
    Off the Ledge Theatre founder.

  • Caitlin Baker

    A director, dramaturg, and theatre maker whose work cuts through the familiar to explore feminist narratives and radical reinventions of classic texts.

  • Person with long brown hair smiling against a plain background.

    Maggie Hawkins

    Maggie evaluates government policy by day and at night, transforms into blacks as a stage manager/crew/operator. Based in Naarm, Melbourne, on Wurundjeri land.

  • Smiling person with long hair, wearing a black top and necklace, against a neutral background.

    Winsome Ogilvie

    Actor (and sometimes costume designer) inspired by the challenge of storytelling and depicting the complexities of the human experience through theatre. Currently residing on Ngunnawal/Ngambri land.

  • A woman with shoulder-length wavy auburn hair smiling at the camera, wearing a dark green top and a lanyard with badges, against a plain light-colored background.

    Sarah Chalmers

    Voice and dialect coach, performer, and professional vowel wrangler. Gets actors out of their heads and into their bodies (and accents). Currently based on Ngunnawal/Ngambri Land

Join the team!

At Off the Ledge Theatre, we’re proud to collaborate with a talented group of artists whose creativity shapes each production. For full cast and creative details, visit the dedicated page for each show.