Esther Dougherty is a playwright and director from Magandjin (Brisbane). Since graduating a BFA Drama at QUT in 2016, they have written and directed four original plays: The Moon Men (2015), Pawpaw Dog & Other Dog (2021), Slippery (2022) and Zagazig (2023). They have presented their shows independently, and in fringe and LGBTQIA+ festivals around the country.

Esther’s practice embraces strangeness, queerness, comedy, and contemporary forms. They run their own theatre company, Curtain World, and perform in drag as Small Paul. In 2022 Esther’s play Pawpaw Dog & Other Dog was published by Playlab Theatre. In 2025, Esther’s play Slippery was nominated for three Matilda Awards (Best Costume, Best Ensemble, and The Lord Mayor’s Award for Best New Australian Work). They are currently studying a Masters of Fine Arts (Directing) at NIDA.