Current Team
Director – Daniel Rhys Williams
Daniel has been a Carmarthen Youth Opera stalwart since 1999, joining the group for Guys and Dolls. His love for the theatre had begun and he went on to win the president’s shield seven years later for his part as Fagin in Oliver! Becoming a theatre regular with groups in Carmarthen from CAOS to Just Good Friends to Merlin, Daniel then went into the field of education and made Performing Arts his focus. He inspired many young people who would go on to pursue their own ambitions in the theatre and Performing Arts.
He continues to work in schools producing and writing educational shows and has been directing young people in musicals for the last ten years. Daniel made his Lyric Theatre directorial debut with CAOS in 2015 directing The Wizard of Oz and, in the same year, won the President’s Shield for the second time with Carmarthen Youth Opera for his portrayal of Gomez in The Addams Family. Daniel, with his wife Gabrielle, run a theatre group for individuals with ALN and are very proud of the work they do. Class Act has been established for over three years now and continue to produce musicals and work closely with the carers and families with those who have ALN. Daniel and his wife also write and produce a local pantomime every Christmas with members from the community.
Daniel is a member of Footlights in Saundersfoot; he is very proud of being a regular there and has appeared in The Addams Family as Gomez and Harold Wilson in Made in Dagenham. In 2017 Daniel became the Director for Carmarthen Youth Opera. Daniel directed Carmarthen Youth Opera’s Guys and Dolls (2018), the 40th anniversary spectacular Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (2019), My Fair Lady (2020), Grease (2022), Shrek (2023) and Our House (2024) and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2025). We welcome him back as Director for our 2027 production of Beauty and the Beast.
Daniel has worked with many professionals over the years but couldn’t be more privileged to be working alongside the committed and talented individuals that make up the Carmarthen Youth Opera. He looks forward to the 2027 production with the company and hopes to see everyone return to the auditorium very soon.
Musical Director – Bridget Radford
Bridget trained at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Classical singing with Beatrix Unsworth and also received coaching sessions in Musical Theatre with Mary Hammond. She has been a singing teacher and vocal coach for over twenty years and is also the Musical Director of Cor Lleisiau Hardd a mixed choir based in Llanelli. Bridget runs Seren Performing Arts which is a performing arts school based at Theatr Y Ffwrnes.
Her involvement with Carmarthen Youth Opera started in 1985 as a performer and then in more recent years as part of the production team. In 2016 Bridget was Musical Director for Whistle Down the Wind and then returned in 2020 for My Fair Lady followed by Grease (2022), Shrek (2023) and Our House (2024). Bridget feels very privileged to MD such a prestigious Youth Company.
Choreographer – Rachel Saddler
Rachel began dancing at the Gwen Wilkin School for premiere Danseurs. At the age of 17 she moved to Wales to train and after graduating taught at Cardigan School of Dancing. She now runs her own school, Steps Starlets, where she teaches Cheerleading, Pom Dance, Hip Hop Jazz and Tumble, and competes both Nationally and Internationally. She also choreographs and is wardrobe mistress for Forge Drama.
Rachel joined the Youth Opera in 2007 with her children Millie and Henry and has never looked back, either choreographing or in wardrobe and enjoying being part of the Youth Opera family.
After working in QE High School for 16 years she returned to university to fulfil her ambition of become a social worker.
Rachel enjoys nothing better than building children’s confidence, seeing them blossom whether it is for a performance or life.
Past Directors
Rhian Holdsworth 2026
Daniel Rhys Williams 2018-2025
Steve Elias 2014-2017
Adrian Rowlands 2005-2013
Elizabeth Evans MBE 1979-2004
Past Musical Directors
Gareth Kirby 2017-2019
Bridget Radford – 2016
Gareth Kirby 2009-2015
Hywel Benjamin 2001-2008
Edward John 1998-2000
Christopher Broome – 1997
John Morgan 1988-1996
Enfys David-Jones/Williams 1984-1987
David Lloyd Davies 1982-1983
Ian Thomas – 1981
Paul Thomas 1979-1980
Past Choreographers/Dance Repetiteurs
Hannah La Trobe – 2018
Rachel Saddler 2009 – 2014
Llinos McCarthy – 2005
Joanne Morris 2005-2014
Jayne Randall 1997
Michael Wray 1990, 1992-1993
Helen Croker/Hughes 1982-1991, 1998-2008
Elizabeth Evans 1979-1981
Previous Repetiteurs/Accompanists
Zara Preece 2022-2024
Hazel Thorogood 1988-1996, 2004-2014, 2019-2021
Jessica Bowen 2013-2016
Sarah Thomas/Kirby 2013-2018
Roger Hart 2000-2005
Calvin Price – 1986
David Poulter 1984-1985, 1987, 1990, 1994-1995,1997-1999
Stephen P Rees – 1982
Ian Jones – 1981
Ian Thomas – 1980
Mair Cooper – 1980