Libby Drake – Artistic Director
LIBBY has been involved in theatre as long as she can remember – from an audience perspective! An avid theatregoer Libby has attended productions in several countries and has seen performances by many of the great actors of our time. In 2013 Libby got out of her audience seat and became Assistant Director to Michael Eustice for the Adelaide Rep’s production of Neville’s Island. Since then she has been the Assistant Director for Red Phoenix Theatre productions Titus Andronicus, Don Parties On, The Conspirators, Caligula, The Flint Street Nativity and A Bunch of Amateurs, and Costume Designer for The Conspirators and The Flint Street Nativity. In 2019, Libby made her directing debut with Horton Foote’s, Dividing the Estate which played to sellout houses and critical acclaim. Libby’s 2021 production of Jessica Swale’s Blue Stockings was also a sellout production with rave reviews from audiences and critics alike. For this production she was a finalist for an Adelaide Critics Circle “Individual Award”. In 2024 Libby directed Horton Foote’s The Trip to Bountiful for Red Phoenix, which was a finalist for the Critics Circle Group Award.
Michael Eustice – Company Production Manager
MICHAEL was the founding Artistic Director of Red Phoenix Theatre. He held this position for 7 years until 2023 when he stood down to focus on a return to acting roles. In 2025, he played King Lear for the Theatre Guild. (The Barefoot Review wrote, … it is Michael Eustice’s voice which rules the stage. Clad in grubby, ill-fitting rags, he delivers the might, majesty, and epic madness of the King. If his vocal delivery is masterful, the expressions in his eyes through every nuance of every scene are spellbinding. He “inhabits’ the role. It is a magnificent, deeply satisfying performance. For Red Phoenix he has directed several award nominated, award winning and critically acclaimed productions including: Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus, Vaclav Havel’s The Conspirators, Albert Camus’ Caligula, and Tim Firth’s The Flint Street Nativity. In 2022, He directed Koala Bob is On The Loose in partnership with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Michael graduated with a BA in Educational Theatre (University of Adelaide) and an MA in Theatre Studies (University of London). He is also the Managing Director of Theatre Bugs & Adelaide Theatre Academy which is the largest performing arts school in South Australia.
Richard Parkhill – Secretary, Lighting Designer, and Photographer
RICHARD has been fascinated by light since the late 60’s and was involved in the Melbourne amateur Theatre scene, learning lighting by asking questions and watching the mistakes of others. He gained his Electricians license and worked for Melbourne Theatre Company, operating the board at Russell Street Theatre for a short time. He then accepted a role at Channel 10 studios in Melbourne; quickly rising to become a Senior Lighting Director designing lighting for Young Talent Time and the Soap/Drama Prisoner among other shows. After moving to Adelaide and working for what was then Channel 7 for a number of years, Richard went freelance as a Gaffer. Richard has returned to theatre and now works as the Senior House Technician at the Arts Theatre. Richard has acted as Lighting Designer for every Red Phoenix Theatre production to date. Richard also designs lighting for other amateur theatre including companies such as The Adelaide Rep, Therry, St Jude’s and the University of Adelaide Theatre Guild. After more than 45 years, Richard is still fascinated by light and passionate about Theatre.
Robby Drake – Committee Member
After majoring in Drama and English literature at the University of Adelaide, Robby went on to complete a Grad Dip Ed (Drama and English) and a Bachelor of Social Work. Robby became a senior drama teacher passing on her enthusiasm and experience to many secondary school students. In this position, Robby was also responsible for staging senior productions and challenging her students to study and perform a broad range of plays from Shakespeare to contemporary Australian Drama. She has recently returned to Adelaide after an absence of 18 years and is working in social welfare, and is also reigniting her involvement in the theatre scene.
Steve Rate – Committee Member
After graduating from Mountview Theatre School, London, Steve went on to work in professional theatre in the UK for over 10 years as a lighting designer, technical manager and chief electrician. During that time Steve worked in the West End, in repertory theatre, at the Donmar Warehouse in Convent Garden, toured internationally with Extemporary Dance Theatre and Cheek by Jowl and was Chief Electrician/Lighting Designer at the Royal College of Music. After moving to Australia 20 years ago, Steve reinvented himself as a senior Geography and History teacher but has maintained his love and connections with the theatre. Steve has a Diploma of Stage Management and Technical Theatre, Bachelor of Arts and Postgraduate Bachelor of Education (Secondary).
Ruby Faith – Committee Member
RUBY’S theatrical journey first began when she joined The Bunyip Children’s Theatre at 8 years of age where she performed in many a pantomime. She has also acted with many other theatre groups over the years including The Westenders , the University of Adelaide Theatre Guild, and State Youth Operas. Ruby’s driving passions over the last 20 years have been as a singer/songwriter performing with many bands including jazz quartet Kaliope, The Milk, and more recently her duo The RubyTones. Ruby is kept extremely busy with her three older children all involved in music and the arts, and her twin five year olds who are currently modelling and acting.
Kate Prescott – Committee Member and Design Champion
Kate’s earliest memory of involvement with the theatre was when she was playing a lion in a family production, and the folding chair she was supposed to climb collapsed onto her fingers. Despite this, Kate is now an experienced director, actor, and set, props and costume designer. After a career as a teacher and psychologist, she “rewired” with a diploma in Live Production Design at Adelaide College of the Arts as a mature age student. Kate has an appreciation for the impact that the production design has on the experience for the performers and for the audience. As a freelance designer she has created production designs for AC Arts; Red Phoenix Theatre, Adelaide Theatre Academy, Holden Street Theatres, University of Adelaide Theatre Guild, Palmerston Projects Pty Ltd, The Adelaide Rep, Wings2Fly, KoBugs, and Inkpot. Most recently Kate has worked as the designer, and hands on artist’s support, for Kirsty Martinsen’s Bodiness – Hands like Wings, an InSPACEResidency at the Adelaide Festival Centre.
Jan Farr – Committee Member and Props/Stage Management Champion
Jan developed a love of live theatre as a little girl in England when the years highlight was a trip up to London’s West End for the pantomime. As a student nurse in Bath and Oxford she was fortunate to be able to see many pre–West End shows for free; a highlight being Peter Ustinov in Beethoven’s 10th. Once she moved to Community Nursing and did not have to do shift work Jan became involved with The Stirling Players mainly Managing Front of House. The theatre bug totally grabbed, and she soon began working backstage with various Adelaide amateur companies; soon becoming known as one half of The Prop Tarts (with Heather Jones). Jan joined Red Pheonix for its first production Titus Andronicus and has had some involvement in every production since.