About
Danielle Cresp, Adventurer, Creator, Grower at Hawthorn House Organics!
From the 1990’s to the 2020’s Danielle Cresp worked in the performing arts in Australia and around the globe.
Danielle was a professional independent Melbourne-based Award Winning Director, Action Theater™ Practitioner, Improvisation Artist, Mentor, Coach and casual academic. She was described by many as a “Mary Poppins style, wisdom-filled, no-bullshit director”, a “passionate, inspiring teacher”, and a “virtuosic improvisation artist”. Danielle was known for creating and directing award-winning, funny, physically embodied, heart-wrenching theatre works.
Career highlights which gained acclaim, sold out seasons, best theatre and green room award nominations included: “The Dirty Mother” (2020) in Perth Fringe World at The Blue Room Theatre, “Happy-Go-Wrong” (2019) at Melbourne Fringe Festival and “Frayed Telomeres: Umah’s Gold” (2018) at SiteWorks Melbourne.
As well as a multitude of independent training with celebrated practitioners around the world, Danielle holds a BA(Hons) in Performance Studies VICTORIA UNIVERSITY, a Diploma of Creative Industries (Theatre Studies) VICTORIA UNIVERSITY and an Associate Diploma in Dance Instruction & Management BOX HILL INSTITUTE.
Danielle’s passion for improvised performance, clowning, physical theatre, directing, artistic practise and teaching took her to festivals, training and performance events across the planet. Danielle worked as a licensed Action Theater™ teacher & practitioner from 2011 to 2021 and during that time she taught over 100 sold out workshops across Australia. She was the Creative Director at Action Theater™Australia from 2013 to 2023 and received much praise and five star reviews for her teaching.
In 2023 after completing an 18 month sabbatical Danielle and her partner felt called to move away from the hustle and bustle of city life and embark on buying a farm in the country. They wanted to grow more of their own vegetables, fruit and work on the land, so they bought acreage in Central Victoria, Australia.
The first year on the land they followed permaculture principles of listening to the land, observing and noticing what it felt like it needed. The first thing it said, was “plant trees”! Since arriving in 2023 they’ve planted nearly 400 trees (both native and non-native).
2025 finds Danielle and her partner living and working on the farm: “Hawthorn House Organics”. There they have over 100 fruit trees (including an abundance of Hawthorn trees), an olive grove and a cottage garden with yummy herbs and veggies. Soon their Certified Organic produce will be available for purchase at local farmers markets and other suppliers of certified organic produce.
Danielle and her partner believe: “The more you notice, the more you have to play with!”