in 1931 he became director of the connaught theatre, worthing, and in 1932, with his brother, the actor derrick de marney, he founded the independent theatre club at the kingsway theatre, where he directed emil ludwig's "versailles" and an adaptation of schnitzler's novel "fraulein else". he also directed louis golding's "magnolia street story" and "master crook", originally called "cosh boy". with his brother he alternated as slim callaghan in "meet slim callaghan" at the garrick theatre and carried on the same role in the play's sequel "slim carves", which he produced and directed.