Peter Flanigan was a teacher in Narrogin and then at City Beach Senior High School. While at the University of Western Australia from 1956 to 1963, he took part in the Uni Revues and then continued his theatrical interests with Repertory and Junior Farmers, C.A.T.S. and Stirling Players. In the 1970s, he also edited the Hamersley Gazette, a local district newspaper.