Abbey Fotheringham
Abbey is a passionate and dedicated performing arts educator with a strong foundation in musical theatre. Her journey in the arts began at the age of 3 at the National College of Dance, where she initially trained in various dance forms including Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, and Musical Theatre.
Abbey’s love for performance expanded beyond dance, leading her to pursue a well-rounded education in musical theatre. She trained in singing under the mentorship of Newcastle’s Alison Hodge from 2015 to 2022 and was a senior musical theatre student at Hunter Drama, where she further developed her acting, singing, and dance skills.
Abbey has been a key performer in several iconic musicals, including Sweet Charity, The Lion King, and Matilda. Her experience as a chaperone for the acclaimed Billy Elliot production, along with her behind-the-scenes contributions to shows such as Alice in Wonderland and The Witches, have given her a well-rounded understanding of both the performance and technical sides of musical theatre. She was also part of the Hunter Drama Tutor Development Program, where she enhanced her teaching skills, preparing her to lead musical theatre classes and choreograph for productions like Junior theatre festival and Finding Nemo Junior.
In addition to her stage work, Abbey has made a name for herself as a choreographer, creating exceptional routines for both group and solo competitions. Her choreography has been recognised in the short sharp dance festival, along with the Department of Education’s Starstruck program, where she performed as a featured dancer and later joined the Student Direction Team. Abbey’s talents were acknowledged at the City of Newcastle Drama Awards, where she was a featured dancer in 2019-2021, along with being performing in state and regional dance and drama ensembles.
Abbey’s academic journey led her to the Hunter School of the Performing Arts, where she pursued Dance for her Higher School Certificate, achieving top marks receiving 100/100 for her exam and earning recognition for her compositional work, at Callback a prestigious HSC showcase. She went on to complete a Certificate 3 in Assistant Dance Teaching and furthered her expertise with a Sydney Dance Company accredited short course in choreographic practice. Currently, she is studying for a bachelor’s degree in dance education at the Australian College of Physical Education in Sydney.
With her diverse experience in musical theatre, performance, and choreography, Abbey is dedicated to shaping the next generation of performers, instilling a deep love of the arts, and helping students build their skills both on and off the stage