Different gifts.
One shared purpose.

Robert Tremayne

Robert founded Dionysus Theatre and leads its artistic vision, productions and development.

An award-winning director, Robert has worked with theatre companies across Sussex including Southwick Players, Worthing Musical Theatre Company and Ditchling Players. His directing credits beyond Dionysus include The Taxidermist’s Daughter, Murder on the Nile, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Kipps, Our House, Cranford and his own adaptation of A Christmas Carol.

His Southwick Players production of The Taxidermist’s Daughter was the first staging of the play outside Chichester Festival Theatre and received the Arts Council Award for Excellence. Our House for Worthing Musical Theatre Company won the NODA Award for Excellence.

Robert directed Southwick Players’ Murder on the Nile before stepping into the production as Canon Pennefather. It brought together the artists who would become the Muses of Dionysus and marked the beginning of several important creative partnerships.

His Dionysus performances include Elyot Chase in Private Lives, Count Fosco in The Woman in White, Constantin in La Mouette, Lady Sneerwell and Trip in School for Scandal, Alan Turing in Breaking the Code, Duke Orsino and Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night, and Luke Sanderson in The Haunting of Hill House.

Beyond Dionysus, Robert played Italian opera composer Gaetano Donizetti in The Maestro, touring the production across the UK and Italy and performing in Donizetti’s home city of Bergamo.

A graduate of Northbrook Metropolitan College and a member of Equity, Robert is committed to making ambitious classic theatre accessible and taking the company’s work to audiences across the UK. In A Christmas Carol by Candlelight, he appears as Ebenezer Scrooge and serves as adaptor and designer.

Lauren Whedbee

Lauren trained at the London College of Music, graduating with a Master’s in Musical Theatre.

Her Dionysus roles include Amanda Prynne in Private Lives, Marian Halcombe in The Woman in White, Marie in La Mouette, Pat Green in Breaking the Code and Maria in Twelfth Night.

Beyond Dionysus, Lauren played Connie Gifford in Southwick Players’ award-winning production of The Taxidermist’s Daughter, directed by Robert Tremayne.

Lauren leads outreach, education and audience development, helping Dionysus remain welcoming, inclusive and connected to the communities it serves. In A Christmas Carol by Candlelight, she plays Mrs Cratchit, Emma, Fan and Mrs Dilber, and understudies several principal tracks.

Kelly Verstappen

Kelly is a performer and creative practitioner with experience across theatre production, costume, prop fabrication and programming.

Kelly first worked with Robert on Southwick Players’ award-winning production of The Taxidermist’s Daughter, where she played Cassie Pine. She later played Louise in Murder on the Nile, before joining Dionysus Theatre as Sybil Chase in the UK tour of Private Lives.

Kelly leads branding, marketing, development and funding work, helping to grow Dionysus Theatre’s profile and touring reach. In A Christmas Carol by Candlelight, she plays Ms Bentley, Jacob Marley, Marley’s Ghost and Mrs Newbury.

Vicky Newman

Vicky has been at the heart of Dionysus Theatre from the beginning.

For Southwick Players’ Murder on the Nile, Vicky began as Assistant Director and later took over as Director when Robert joined the cast as Canon Pennefather.

Her company credits include directing Private Lives, The Woman in White, School for Scandal and Twelfth Night, and performing in The Rats, La Mouette, The Seagull, Breaking the Code and The Haunting of Hill House.

As Director and Company Secretary, Vicky supports the organisation, governance and continuity of the company with clarity, care and a strong creative eye. She directs A Christmas Carol by Candlelight and appears as Old Sal and Rose.

Pippa Dawes

Pippa returned to acting after first discovering theatre at school, where her productions included Our Day Out, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Wiz and Blue Remembered Hills.

She played Miss Ffoliott-Foulkes in Southwick Players’ Murder on the Nile, her first production with Robert and the collaboration that led to her becoming a Muse of Dionysus.

She has also performed stand up comedy at Komedia, created a two season comedy podcast during lockdown and sung in charity concerts. In A Christmas Carol by Candlelight she plays the Spirit of Christmas Present, Mrs Harrington, Fezziwig and the Second Gossip.

George Simmonds

George first performed as Bugsy in Bugsy Malone at Shoreham Academy. He joins the Dionysus ensemble with warmth, energy and a strong instinct for character.

Most recently he played Simon Mostyn in Southwick Players’ Murder on the Nile, where he first worked with Robert and became part of the group that developed into the Muses of Dionysus.

In A Christmas Carol by Candlelight he plays the Spirit of Christmas Yet to Be, Fred and Young Scrooge, and understudies Mr Murdock.

Charlie O’Hagan

Charlie studied Drama at Queen’s University Belfast, where her roles included Gloria in The Last Days of Judas Iscariot and Lara in Happy as Larry. Earlier musical theatre credits include Fat Sam in Bugsy Malone, the Admiral in Mary Poppins and Lord Brockhurst in The Boyfriend.

She played Kay Mostyn in Southwick Players’ Murder on the Nile, where she first worked with Robert and became part of the group that developed into the Muses of Dionysus.

In A Christmas Carol by Candlelight she plays Bob Cratchit, Dick Wilkins and Mr Murdock, and understudies Mrs Newbury.

Anna Connors

Anna has performed with Burgess Hill Musical Theatre Society in Made in Dagenham, The Wedding Singer, Kipps and Shrek. Her theatre credits also include Playhouse Creatures and Entertaining Angels with Burgess Hill Theatre Club, and Martha in Cranford with Ditchling Players.

Having previously worked with Robert, Anna reunited with him on Southwick Players’ Murder on the Nile as Jacqueline de Severac and became one of the Muses of Dionysus.

In A Christmas Carol by Candlelight she plays the Spirit of Christmas Past and Belle, and understudies several company tracks.

Claire Coull

Claire’s stage credits include Miss Pole in Cranford, Ruth in Calendar Girls, Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Gossip in Caged Birds, Wifey in Call Me Daddy and Nursey in Shakespeare in Love.

She previously worked with Robert as Mrs Christie in Southwick Players’ award-winning production of The Taxidermist’s Daughter, which he directed. She later appeared in the company’s Murder on the Nile as Chief Stewardess and Super Swing and became one of the Muses of Dionysus.

In A Christmas Carol by Candlelight she plays Miss Granger, Miss Topper and the First Gossip, and understudies Bob Cratchit, Mrs Dilber and Dick Wilkins.

Matthew Pike

Matthew is a production specialist and lighting designer with extensive experience across theatre, touring and venue management. He is Head of Technical and Production for Worthing Theatres and Museum.

For Dionysus Theatre, Matthew designed the lighting for The Woman in White and La Mouette. He returns as Lighting Designer for A Christmas Carol by Candlelight, helping shape the company’s atmospheric visual identity.