News

Remembering Bobbi-Lea Dionysius

We are saddened to learn of the passing of Bobbi-Lea Dionysius, who died on 15 May 2025, aged 51, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

A Queensland-based creative, impact producer, and advocate, Bobbi-Lea spent her career championing Australian stories across screen, stage, and education. She was a lecturer, a mentor, a filmmaker, and a tireless supporter of the artists and communities around her. A post confirming her passing described her as “a much-loved daughter, sister, aunt, colleague, leader, and friend” — a tribute that speaks to the breadth of lives she touched across her 51 years.

Her connection to the Australian theatre community was longstanding and genuine, and her time as part of the AussieTheatre team left a lasting mark on the publication and the people in it.

Erin James, former Editor in Chief and Co-Director of AussieTheatre.com reflects:

Bobbi-Lea Dionysius was an integral part of the AussieTheatre.com team during my years as Editor in Chief. During the 7 years we spent as colleagues at AussieTheatre, Bobbi-Lea wrote reviews, features, news pieces and interviews, passionately championing theatre makers, artists and local works.

As the main QLD correspondent for the site at the time, Bobbi-Lea pulled together a team of writers to review the many varied theatrical offerings in and around the larger Brisbane area. She was prolific in not just her writing, but in her creation of visual media, too. Using her knowledge of the film and TV space to create video interviews, features and short form content — well before the advent of Instagram and TikTok — Bobbi-Lea (and her boundless energy!) took audiences into theatrical spaces, introduced new talent to our readership and ensured local artists were given coverage on a national platform. She was kind, vivacious and extremely generous.

I feel incredibly lucky to have spent some time in her orbit.

We extend our sincere condolences to Bobbi-Lea’s family, friends, and all those whose lives she touched. She will be greatly missed.

Gabi Bergman

Gabi Bergman (she/her) is a Melbourne-based performer and educator, and the current Deputy Editor-in-Chief of AussieTheatre.com. She holds a double degree in Theatre Studies and Film/Screen Studies, along with a Master of Teaching (Secondary Education). A passionate advocate for inclusion and diversity in the arts, Gabi brings her deep love of storytelling to the stage, the page, and the classroom. A lifelong lover of theatre, she spends more on tickets than she’d like to admit. Her most prized possession is her ever-growing collection of theatre programs.