Coaching West End leads in musical theatre - Claire Underwood on Les Mis, Hamilton, Cabaret & more

How do actors and singers deal with performing in long-running shows? And what is the role of a vocal coach - is vocal technique only part of the puzzle?

In this episode of This Is A Voice, we sit down with Claire Underwood — the vocal coach behind Hamilton, Les Misérables, Cabaret, Phantom of the Opera and more in London's West End — to explore:
🎭 How top-level singers stay healthy in high-pressure roles
🎶 Why individuality matters more than copy-pasting a “perfect sound”
🧠 How mindset, belief, and identity impact performance
🗣️ The difference between coaching actors vs. singers
💡 Why the singing isn’t the goal — the storytelling is.

Three high-level vocal coaches, all with West End clients, sharing thoughts on how to support professional performers in musical theatre.

00:00 Claire Underwood’s amazing resume
02:21 A holistic approach
04:11 Finding themselves in the role
05:47 Reinventing a long-running show
07:32 Is there an industry sound?
10:06 Individuality moving from drama student to professional
12:22 Earning the sounds your character makes
14:54 Dealing with conflicting advice in the show
16:12 Why quick fixes might not work
18:36 It’s not my job to…
20:35 Taking over a long-running role
24:21 Working with actors not known for singing
27:51 Difference between actor and singer mentalities
29:41 When “singing” isn’t the goal

Whether you're a professional singer, vocal coach, choir leader, or musician supporting performers, this is a must-watch for anyone serious about thriving in this industry without losing their voice — or themselves.

🎧 Watch the full episode now and find out what’s really going on behind the scenes:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVe-7G6hitI

#MusicalTheatre #VocalCoach #ProfessionalSingers #SingingTeacher #VoiceTraining #PerformerMindset #ChoirDirector #MusicIndustry #StorytellingThroughSong #cabaretmusical 

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