Creative Team

Sonia Fraser, Director

Trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. As an actress she worked at the Bristol Old Vic; Birmingham Rep; Nottingham Playhouse; and spent two years as a member of The Royal Shakespeare Company. She was twice a member of the BBC Radio Rep. and appeared on Television in a variety of roles.

Her work as a director began at the Mercury Theatre Colchester, where she ran the Studio Theatre, with an emphasis on contemporary and new writing. She has continued to be excited by working with new writing. She has been awarded three Fringe Firsts at the Edinburgh Festival. She was awarded The Green Room Award in Sydney, Australia for “Gertrude Stein and a companion”. “Dickens Women” which she co-wrote and directed with Miriam Margolyes, received an Olivier nomination.

She teaches and directs at several drama Schools. 

John Martin, Piano

By the age of six John Martin was playing complex piano compositions by ear and at 15, won an encouragement award for performing a Chopin Impromptu and The Prelude in C# Minor by Rachmaninov on national television’s “New Faces”.

He is one of Australia’s most diverse, sensitive, award-winning pianists. From his early days in Mudgee, John has been playing professionally for more than twenty-five years; from recitals, ensembles, classical concerts through to jazz, popular music and cabaret. His warm, vibrant personality and eclectic performance skills are legendary; comfortably embracing live radio broadcasts, he has become a regularly featured artist on Classic FM’s Breakfast, Drive and Thursday Live programs.

An intricate part of John’s professional career has also seen him accompanying and mentoring graduating vocalists, wind, brass and string instrumentalists through their public examination recitals and assessments. As the recipient of two prestigious, overseas study grants awarded by The Music Board of Australia and Australia’s Opera Foundation, John studied and worked in London under the tutelage of two world-renowned pianists, Clifford Benson and Paul Hamburger, strengthening his accompanist skills with both vocal and instrumental ensembles.

Mark Hammer, Lighting

With over 25 years experience Mark Hammer has a wide and diverse background. He has lit stars of theatre, famous structures, movie stars, rock stars, ancient artifacts, in theatres, big tops, indoor and outdoor stadiums, school halls, restaurants, nightclubs, mobile stages and venues that were never meant to be venues.
Specialising in lighting large scale events like the Commonwealth Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies 2006 and NYE on Sydney Harbour.

Mark has also lit many international contemporary music artists for camera including Slash, Katy Perry, Lupa Fiasco and Keisha aswell as Keith Urban, Powderfinger and Jessica Maulboy. Not to mention the red carpet appearances and TV awards shows for music and sports.
In the corporate world Mark has lit many launches, promotions and awards evenings. Each one requires a different approach with each specification. Sometimes the locations have been unusual or the creative breif exotic.

In addition to this Mark has also been involved in installation lighting. He has designed a complete lighting system for the Oxford Art Factory which is a gallery and nightclub. Power availability was a major issue so Marks system was LED based supported by low voltage and fixtures of low power consumption. Sydney Children’s Hospital has a playroom lit by Mark aswell as the refurbished ground floor of the Sydney Jewish Museum and the Comedy Cafe at Fox Studios.

Marks use of LED technolgy in installations and shows has created an interest in installed art. He lit the Songlines sculpture at the Music Conservatorium and provided an interactive pallette for Smartlight2009 with the Rainbow light sculpture which was also displayed in Singapore.

He has also mentored at NIDA in lighting design and operation and spoken at PALM lighting trade show in Bejing on lighting large scale events.