Meet The Team

ROMA TOMELTY 1945-2020

“She was full of self-confidence, a vivacious woman with a big personality and a big voice. She was a driving force, an innovator,” — Lyric Theatre, 2020.

Our late co-founder, the widely-acclaimed Roma Tomelty was a hugely talented “powerhouse of an actress” as she was candidly described in the arts community. Also a keen playwright, director and mentor to the younger generations of performing artists.

She was a member of the Young Irish Theatre Company as a teenager and was educated at the University of York where she studied English Language and Literature. Shortly before forming Centre Stage, she was the Artistic Director of Newry Arts Centre, responsible for a number of small scale theatrical and musical productions. With film credits in “Your Highness” and “Miss Conception” as well as more recently “The Frankenstein Chronicles” and “Frank of Ireland” on Channel 4, Roma was a much-loved, respected and very much valued contributor to the Ulster arts community.

Countless plays and accolades, acted in, written and directed in her lifetime, with a career spanning over 60 years. Our Roma, mother, wife, mentor and inspiration. Very sorely missed, will forever live on in the hearts of our all members at Centre Stage.

Colin Carnegie

Artistic Director/Co-founder

Colin first started with the New Irish Players; playing in Repertoire at Killarney. He then moved on to Dublin, working at the Gate Theatre for Hilton Edwards. Colin went on to take the position of Stage Manager at the Olympia. After graduating from Bradford University, he became Stage Manager at The Leeds Playhouse and Production Manager for the Lyceum in Edinburgh. Colin was a regular on BBC TV’s The Show as John Major! No stranger to a film set, his most recent film credits include, The Lost City of Z and Dungeons and Dragons. Co-founding Centre Stage in 1983 with his late wife, Roma Tomelty

Hannah Carnegie

General Manager

Hannah is a professional actress, producer and occasional writer. Walking firmly in her mother’s footsteps, she has been professionally acting in both film and theatre productions from when she was merely a small child. Working alongside the famous Julie Walters and Toby Stephens gave a young up-and-coming Hannah great inspiration. With film credits as Katherine Molloy in Sunset Heights (1999) Niamh in “Mickey Bo & Me” (2004) and Home Made (2015) she is also no stranger to the big screen. She notably became one of the first of 15 graduates in the inaugural year of The Lir. (National Academy of Dramatic Art)

In 2019, Hannah wrote her first play with actress Fiona Coughlan which was presented in Scene and Heard, a new writing festival in Smock Alley, Dublin. More recently starring in our revival of “The McCooeys” as Sally McCooey. The youngest of the Tomelty-Carnegie clan, she has been involved with the company ever since she was old enough to fold costumes and hold a piece of scenery. Now that’s dedication to the craft!