About Us

Our Story

Phoenix Theatre Company was launched in 2018 to offer a unique and innovative theatre training for young people across Sussex, at the highest level.

Run by a family with an extensive history in professional performing and directing, Phoenix is excited to offer all students the chance to work with current professionals from every area of the industry. Our students regularly work with West End stars, casting directors, theatre directors and producers, and a whole range of professional technical experts.

Alongside amateur performing and theatre training, Phoenix launched a successful Spotlight Young Performers talent agency, PTCPerformers, on April 1st 2019, which represents clients aged 4 – 25 from all over the UK. Our clients work professionally in television, theatre, commercials and radio.

Professional Teaching

Our philosophy at Phoenix is to offer a professional level of opportunity and teaching to all students, whatever their background, future career hopes, or skill level.

Build Confidence

We aim to build confidence and social skills in all our students through our teaching and various different classess, no matter the student.

Be Bold

At our Phoenix classes we encourage bravery and boldness in our young people’s approach to every part of their lives, not just performances.

Our Team

Robert White is the incredible, original and outstanding comedian/musician who was the runner up on Britain’s Got Talent 2018!

Robert always has many musical projects on the go as well as touring as a stand-up comedian, something he has done for over 15 years. He is a skilled trumpet and keyboard player, and is currently composing a musical for the West End!

Some of our Phoenix students were privileged to record vocals for him recently for a top secret project, and he made sure they had the very best day.

Robert regularly writes original songs for Phoenix, and runs very personal workshops with our students. We are so pleased to welcome Robert on board as our new patron.

Amanda started life as a musical protégée and became a full music scholar at the famous St Paul’s Girls’ School at the age of 10. Amanda was a professional child performer who then moved into musical direction from the age of 15. She studied at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and is a highly skilled and competent pianist.

Alongside her work as a professional musical director, Amanda is an accomplished drama teacher, theatre director, vocal coach, accompanist, and piano/singing teacher.

For several years Amanda was a vocal coach for Babette Langford and coached the children for several Kenwright tours such as Evita, Half a Sixpence, Jesus Christ Superstar and Joseph. She has taught at many prestigious theatre schools and has been employed as a musical director on shows all over the south of England.

Amanda has worked tirelessly in theatre for over 30 years. She has run several weekend youth theatre schools, training many children who have since become professional adult performers themselves.

Brogan showed an incredible musical ability as a very young child, achieving grade 8 in piano, singing and oboe while still at school. He spent many years winning music festival classes as a pianist and singer throughout his childhood. Brogan secured a full music and dance scholarship to prestigious Brighton College, where he also played the lead role in school productions.

Brogan’s dance training was at Arts Ed and Rox School of Dance, where he studied ballet, tap, modern, jazz, pas de deux and contemporary dance. He has performed on stage and screen from the age of 5 years, playing roles such as Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, Angel in Rent, Michael in Billy Elliot, Jesus in Godspell and Rolf in Sound of Music. He recently recorded the tap-dancing feet for the BBC Strictly Come Dancing advertisement.

Brogan studied on the four-year honours BMus Performance degree at the University of Chichester and is now working as a Musical Director for Phoenix and for other theatre companies. He is a highly sought-after vocal coach, and a skilled choreographer, with tap being his particular specialism.

In his spare time he performs for charities and at nursing homes in the local area.

Our Creative Enablers

Chay spent her childhood as a professional performer, firstly appearing for 9 months at The Palladium in The Wizard of Oz, at the age of 6!

She played many lead roles in musicals and won copious singing and drama classes at competitive festivals throughout her childhood.

Chay is currently studying Production Arts at the prestigious Brit School, and is hoping to move into professional stage management.

She also continues to perform, and at the last minute she found herself performing in our production of Oliver, to cover the amazing role of Bet; a useful skill for any future SM, DSM or ASM!

With seven siblings, several of whom have additional support needs, Chay has extensive experience and ability in supporting young people to achieve and reach their goals. She is calm and patient, and an excellent role model for our young students.

Kiara first joined Phoenix as a student in 2018, attending the Saturday workshops since 2019. She has participated in shows, festivals and events with the company, including Annie, Bugsy Malone, Oliver and Honk Jr. and singing in group events at Springboard and Disability Pride.

She is grateful to have been invited to become a creative enabler at Phoenix and works with the students to nurture and encourage them to their best.

Our Technical Team

Raefn is currently working on the UK Tour of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.

Raefn started his career in the industry as a performer, with his first ever West End appearance at the age of 6 playing Small Boy in Billy Elliot. He appeared in many more West End and touring shows, and was excited to perform as a lead role in the brand new opera, Imago, at Glyndebourne in 2013.

However, Raefn always found the backstage and technical side of the theatre more interesting than the performance on stage! He would always question how things worked in the theatre and work his way into the lighting or sound box, or into the orchestra pit!

As Raefn grew older, he smoothly transitioned into the technical side of the industry. He gained a full scholarship on the Stage Management Course at The National Theatre aged just 15. He then successfully applied and auditioned for a place at the prestigious BRIT School studying Technical Theatre, and also was employed to tech with Brit Kids on a Saturday.

Whilst studying, Raefn continued to freelance, gaining experience in lighting on many high profile events in large venues such as Hillsong Carols at Wembley Arena and The BRIT Awards 2018 at the O2 Arena.

Since leaving Brit in 2018 he has toured as LX with the UK productions of Dirty Dancing and 9 to 5, and worked as a Lighting Technician on pantos in Bradford and Portsmouth. He has worked for Dynamo the magician, been part of the lighting team at The Globe Theatre, and managed to also fit in lighting design for local amateur and school productions.

Raefn continues to work regularly on high profile events, as well as supplying key technical support to the local area. He is a highly sought-after lighting designer and technician and is always keen to help with local productions. Raefn also goes into schools to work with young people looking to pursue a career in the technical side of theatre and frequently workshops with our students.

With 15 plus years experience working in the theatre industry,  Sam has been a Sound Engineer on a variety of productions from touring children’s shows to large scale musical productions around the South Coast.

Sam is excited to be the in-house sound engineer for Phoenix Theatre Company, having provided excellent sound for Bugsy Malone, Annie and Oliver!

Our Classes

At the Shark Park Cafe, Portslade, Phoenix offers an exciting all-day Saturday school, open to students aged 4 to 19.

Separate to the weekend theatre school, Phoenix offers a chance to take part in professionally run, full-scale musicals performed around Brighton and Hove, and open to any performers aged 5 – 99 years!

Full Day

10:00 - 16:00
£ 123 per month
  • Singing
  • Dancing
  • Acting
Click Here
T's & C's apply.

Theatre Class

10:00 - 13:00 / 13:00 - 14:00
£ 78 per month
  • Singing
  • Dancing
  • Acting
Click Here
T's & C's apply.

Chicks Class

10:00 - 11:30
£ 45 per month
  • Singing
  • Dancing
  • Acting
Click Here
T's & C's apply.
performers attending kids theatre classes in brighton run by Phoenix Theatre Company in All Saint's Church, Hove

If you are looking for a theatre group for your children, Phoenix Theatre Company is the one to join. We have been working with this company for almost 4 years now; all three of my daughters have been in shows with them. My eldest daughter and youngest daughter go to their Saturday workshops in Hove, they are given so many opportunities, not only from the company, but with the outside West End stars they bring in to do workshops with them as well. Phoenix Theatre Company are a fully inclusive group as well, as long as you can meet their very flexible boundaries you would be welcomed.

During all the uncertainty of the past year, Phoenix theatre company have offered a full three hour session every week on the zoom platform which has included a lot of workshops from West End Stars as well.

Tracy, mum to three students

My daughter Gracie joined the Phoenix Chicks group about 3 months ago and she absolutely loves it!! Everyday she asks if it's Saturday yet!! Amanda and Clare are fantastic, everyone is so friendly and welcoming, I am so happy that Gracie is part of a really wonderful group of people even through lockdown, they worked so hard to make sure everyone still had fun every Saturday on zoom! I couldn't recommend enough!!

Lottie, mum to our youngest Phoenix Chick

Phoenix has really brought my son out of his shell and he is missing seeing everyone during lockdown, so the online sessions have been great! Looking forward to the workshops in a couple of weeks and can’t wait to be back with the Phoenix family.

Sam, mum to a Phoenix Chick and chaperone for the company

My son looks forward to this class every week and we love the fact that despite his additional needs he is welcomed as an equal. Amanda and team have a wealth of talent and theatre contacts and sure know how to put on a show.

Kate, mum to a Phoenix student

My son started at Phoenix a couple of months ago as his previous theatre company felt he was no longer suited to their mainstream class. As soon as he stepped through the door, he was made to feel very welcome by both Amanda and the other students. My son has additional needs and is treated the same as the other students and is respected for who he is. It is a breath of fresh air to find a theatre school who are fully inclusive. Ben has settled well which is a real testament to all Phoenix do and is extremely excited to be taking part in productions and festivals with Phoenix. Amanda is truly dedicated to all the students and spends hours going that extra mile for the children. A truly lovely theatre company.

Anna, mum to a Phoenix student

My daughter loves everything about Phoenix. The whole team are passionate about musical theatre and use their expertise to bring out the very best in each of the children attending. I have seen her confidence improve and she happily jumps out of bed on a Saturday morning. I would highly recommend Phoenix to anyone who wants their child to develop their skills in a caring, supportive environment.

Jo, mum to Phoenix student

I have a 12 and 14 year old who are part of Phoenix. This musical theatre group treats them both the same, but acknowledges their differences. As a result, both my kids have gained from attending the workshops (and other activities) offered by Phoenix , but in different ways to each other. Phoenix has been fantastic for improving their acting singing and dancing skills, but also for their individual personal development and growth. And they have so much fun while all this “learning” takes place!!!! . I personally recommend Phoenix above all other Musical theatre groups. Especially the larger, national, well known groups. Phoenix members aren’t treated as a number with a pound sign. The wonderful staff get to know each member really well, and use this knowledge to bring out the best of each and everyone of them, rather than attempting to make them fit a mould.

Estelle, mum to two Phoenix performers

I’ve been a student at Phoenix for over two years now and having attended a few different groups, I can honestly say it is zany! I have cerebral palsy so use a wheelchair to get around. “Inclusive.” can be misinterpreted as “Just for those with additional needs.” Running two groups, one for people with additional needs and one without is segregation. Keeping cast members in a separate backstage space because they have a disability is segregation. Well, I can confidently state-None of that goes on here. The choreographer and director don’t dumb down, they even do impressions of a stereotypical patronising person (which is hilarious.) The group gives you opportunities to sharpen your acting skills and creativity through games and dance but specialises in musical theatre. They frequently invite West End performers to do workshops and annually participate in Springboard , one of the UK’s largest drama festivals, with both solo and group entry.

Matilda student for 3 years

People we work with

Our Shows

Find out about our previous and upcoming productions.