Anne-Louise Rentell is a regional and outer-metro based artist with 30 years experience in the performing arts, working as a director, producer, performer, dramaturg and arts manager. 

As an independent artist, she works under the banner of The Society of Histrionic Happenings, assembling teams of high-calibre artists to create original theatrical, visual and site-specific productions which explore the past through a contemporary lens. Examples of works by The Society of Histrionic Happenings include The Governess, and music-theatre work The Siren Project at Port Kembla pool.  

Anne-Louise is also the Director of The Strangeways Ensemble at Merrigong Theatre Company in Wollongong. The Strangeways Ensemble is Merrigong’s permanent company of professional actors, and Wollongong’s only professional theatre ensemble. Since 2014, the ensemble has made three original theatre works: The Man Who Dreamt the Stars, The Outside Man, and Trash Talk.

From 2003 – 2014, Anne-Louise worked as Artistic Associate for Merrigong, playing a key role in developing Merrigong’s producing capacity, community relationships, and reputation as one of Australia's busiest, most dynamic regional venues and theatre companies. During this time she directed seven Merrigong productions, including Dead Man Brake, Charcoal Creek, and founded the successful Vault Cabaret which ran for 13 years in Port Kembla.