Meet the Creatives behind The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe

Meet some of the creatives behind the scenes of The Courtyard Junior Youth Theatre show, The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe, performing in Easter 2023.

Lisa Fraser is an IDTA registered dance teacher and qualified exercise and Pilates instructor working in Hereford. She teaches many of The Courtyard’s in house classes, as well as running her own business teaching weekly dance and fitness sessions.

Lisa grew up in Hereford and has been involved in many local theatre companies and with The Courtyard since it’s opening in 1998. She is delighted to be returning as the Choreographer for the Junior Youth Theatre’s main show for the second time. Lisa is a proud Youth Theatre alumni herself!

“I’ve absolutely loved working with the Junior Youth Theatre again this year. Their enthusiasm and commitment is inspiring and I’m very proud of the hard work they’ve put into every aspect of the show. Many of the cast had no previous dance experience but it hasn’t stopped them from giving me 100% in rehearsals. Their willingness to try new things is uplifting! I can’t wait to see them on stage.”

Originally from Bromyard, Carl’s training and development into theatre started in the Conquest Youth theatre. Having developed an interest in theatre and scenic painting, he decided to check out “the city” so he enrolled on to the Art and Design course at Hereford College of Arts.

Carl enrolled on a course in Theatre Design at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Since graduating, Carl has worked with The Courtyard on numerous occasions, including Lord of the Flies, Great Expectations and Jane Eyre to name a few.

Máth is a Welsh-born musical director, composer, pianist, and performer. After completing his BA in music at Oxford University, he continued his training at the Royal Academy of Music. Máth’s most recent work includes Musical Director for Merrily We Roll Along (Oxford Playhouse), and Musical Director for Urinetown (Royal Academy of Music), and Máth’s musical song-cycle, What Comes After was performed at the Burton Taylor Studios under his direction. Outside of the theatre, Máth is a voice actor and a published classical composer, in both chamber and choral music, including commissioned work by The International Piano Festival of Wales. Máth’s orchestral arrangements can be heard on the albums of prolific performers of the west end and his vocal A cappella arrangements for the Oxford Alternotives gained him national recognition in the 2020 ICCAs.

Máth wishes to continue to develop his musical style by integrating his classical training into the world of musical theatre, creating fresh new pieces of theatre that resonate with today.

Livi is a recent graduate of the Royal Academy of Music where she gained a Distinction for her MA in Musical Direction. Since graduating her credits include Musical Supervisor for the award-winning new musicals Sex With Friends and Don’t Say Macbeth (GOYA, Pleasance, Zoo Venues), MD/Arranger for The Day the Sea Caught Fire (Anthology Theatre), Music Assistant for The Witches of Eastwick (Sondheim Theatre), Assistant MD for the Sondheim Old Friends Gala and Musical Director/Keys 2 for the development and premiere of Treason (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane).

MD Credits while training include Merrily We Roll Along, Into the Woods; Arranger/Orchestrator/AMD for Hello Jerry! and RAM’s Agent Showcase.

Before attending the Academy, Livi studied for a BA(Hons) in Music at St Anne’s College, Oxford, graduating with First Class Honours in 2021. During her time in Oxford she was MD for Chicago, Songs from the Old World and The Last Five Years. Livi has continued a close relationship with Herefordshire-based site-specific company Feral Productions for whom she has composed A Song for Berrington and Feral Tales. She also worked as Lead Creative and Actor-Musician on the BBC New Creatives/Wrapt Films short film Folk.