Meet the Team

DIANA BENTLEY
Artistic Director
Diana is a Dora Award winning producer, actor, director and writer and the co-founder and former Artistic Director of Coal Mine Theatre. She’s a graduate of UofT, LAMDA and the CFC Actors' Conservatory. She is a director (People, Places & Things, Yerma) and takes the stage regularly (most recently she starred in the Coal Mine’s production of Hedda Gabler). She has performed in many tv shows and films such as Handmaid’s Tale, Sort Of, Departure, Frontier, Locke and Key, Cabinet of Curiosities and The Expanse to name just a few. She is also the recipient of an Equity Award of Distinction. Diana is the proud mother of Henry, step-mother of Rosie and Theo Dykstra and partner of Ted.

ANTHONY GONCHAROV
Producer
Anthony is a producer, director, actor, and metal enthusiast. He has produced critically-acclaimed indie productions of both new and existing works including: Constellations, Fiji (new work), and Lobby Hero, as well as workshops of Toronto, 1989 and Skylark: A New Musical with his company, Icarus Theatre. He produced the Dark Day Cabaret series, running monthly in Toronto for two years, and upcoming productions include Oleanna, DNA and Julie.

As an actor and director, he has played a part in numerous productions both in Ontario, and in his home province of BC. He's extremely grateful to be a part of The Vault Creation Lab, to help create new stories in this city!

ERIK RICHARDS
Resident Production Manager
Erik Richards (He/Him) is a Director, Musician and Playwright from Treaty Six joining The Vault as their Production Manager. Erik first made his way to the Vault through his time as a designer and production manager with the Coal Mine back in 2023 where he worked on DION : a Rock Opera, Infinite Life and People, Place and Things. Since the first public lab earlier this year, Erik has been involved at the Vault as a sound designer and manager on both A Little Closer and Discount Dave and the Fix and will continue to work closely in both disciplines on many labs to come! Erik has been passionately developing new plays in Canada since 2020 as a director and designer. In 2024 he premiered his first original play Brother Rat in Edmonton at the Backstage Theatre as a part of their mainstage season. Brother Rat explores the intersection between music and live theatre through the aesthetics and setting of a punk rock concert. As his writing practice continues, Erik strives for curiosity at the meeting place between genres and is excited to keep working to develop stories which embrace this approach as well.

STEVE LUCAS
Resident Designer
Steve Lucas is an award-winning set, lighting, and projection designer, filmmaker, and mentor based in Ontario, Canada. He has designed over 500 productions across theatre, dance, opera, and performance art, with his work seen in 27 countries. Highlights include premieres of 2 Pianos 4 Hands, The Drowsy Chaperone, and The Drawer Boy, as well as collaborations with Canadian Stage, Stratford Festival, and Shaw Festival. A five-time Dora Award winner, Steve continues to create, mentor, and inspire across theatre, film, and live events.


CHARLOTTE DENNIS
Creative Producer
Charlotte is a producer, actor, writer and painter. She is a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada and The Soulpepper Academy in 2023. Her most recent acting credits include: Job (Coal Mine Theatre), Onion Skins and Peach Fuzz: The Farmerettes (Blyth Festival), The Walk Up (Soulpepper, Creator/Performer), An Experiment for Living a Life (Soulpepper Academy, Creator/Performer) What Rough Beast (Centaur Theatre). Her film and tv credits include: Murdoch Mysteries, Forever Young and Alex & Isla. She has released a zine with original writing and artwork called, 'No One's Lonely When There's HBO.' Charlotte is so grateful to be a part of this new community minded company!