ALW's Cinderella - Gillian Lynne / U.K. Tour (rumour)

But... and I am the furthest from an actor/singer/dancer it's possible to be, so maybe I'm wrong, but... even if you had great natural talent and can make a career without formal training first, which I think is fine, why wouldn't you want to undertake some training down the line, to get better at your craft? I mean, I'm assuming theatre is a job of passion for most people, and if you're doing what you love why wouldn't want to do everything to get even better at it or even just support your existing skills?

I've never understood the "I'm not trained" thing as a point of pride. Aside from anything else, I'd have thought someone performing 7-8 shows a week would want to see a vocal coach regularly to maintain good technique and ensure she isn't damaging her voice. Most of the amateurs I know have had some training - until good old covid I was taking lessons each week, and if my voice goes all that happens is I can't play third nun from the left in an amateur production of Sound of Music anymore. I'd hope a professional would take steps to protect and work with her instrument.

I think I read somewhere that Siobhan McCarthy considered herself untrained. I think in the past there were less academies and certainly there was nowhere in Ireland for someone to train in musical theatre so people learned on the job. But can you really consider yourself untrained if you've sustained a 40 year plus career, opened and led some of the biggest West End shows and been directed by Hal Prince, George Abbott, Trevor Nunn, Deborah Warner and Phyllida Lloyd?

To answer your question, generally, no. This would fall under the remit of the MD, and his or her first professional dealings with a performer will be at the first call in rehearsals (aside from a hi in the the meet and greet, day one at 10am!).
All this is dealt with at final rehearsal, (where MD will usual accompany on piano), but from my experience the MD's opinion is generally not asked for or offered, they play the piano and the creatives at the table either like or or don't.

Stars in plays occasionally get dialect coaches or vocal coaches in movies, but generally in musicals from regional to West End and Broadway, everything after casting is down to the MD and his assistants to manage. The idea is you've been cast "ready" in ability.

They have rehearsals to give notes (some actors are better than others at taking them and improving) but otherwise what you get when the show is "locked down" is what you get vocally for their contract.

The noticeable changes in vocal performance I've experienced from opening night to later are if the actor has personal issues, illness or nerves. They aren't getting vocal notes, at least "officially".

I experienced her Veronica in Heathers and it was hard to listen to. Her Wednesday Addams was decidedly average (but to be honest the whole show was average on a Sunday matinee in Salford) and her Fantine in the Les Mis concert was great vocally but completely without emotion in the acting department. 

I don’t really understand why she gets the gigs. She is a very average actor with a lovely voice, sometimes, but there are hoards of people who are as good as her or better. I can only conclude that it’s her SM following. Casting based on your SM is depressing. 

I wonder if it’ll be recast when Carrie goes or if they will just bump up one of the covers for its dying months?

I think Heathers is where I started to notice Carrie's technique issues as well. The score had to be taken down for her, but the original key should be well within her natural range as a mezzo soprano. The reason she struggled with the score is because of what I mentioned earlier, she pushes her voice for volume which reduces your range and decreases your overall flexibility. Not to mention puts twice as much pressure on the chords as you should be, so I've always felt that it's why she became so sick during the run.

I also remember during one of her lockdown vlogs with her now ex Oliver, they both described a part of a song as vocally 'floaty'. It took me ages to work out what they meant as I've never heard anyone say that before, but I googled the song and realised they were actually describing a head voice note. It really screamed to me that both of them lack technical knowledge (I think Oliver's voice is horrible, sorry!), as head voice should never feel "floaty" or unstable, it should feel strong and totally connected to your support system.

I know I keep saying it but I like Carrie, but find it very frustrating to hear someone cracking on a note just because they're approaching it wrong.

P.s. I tired to multi quote but couldn't work it out, so sorry for the two posts after each other!

I might be wrong, but I thought singing teachers and vocal coaches were different?

I thought you'd go to a teacher for overall technique, and learning how to sing well and sustainably, but a vocal coach would work with you specifically for choices on your songs for a role (for example).

In addition to the £15 tickets, the other other news is that the bar at the Gillian Lynne will be opening a full 90 minutes before each performance, with a 25% discount for the first 30 minutes. The idea seems to be that if everyone is pissed, they won't notice the holes in the plot!

Isn’t it like an unwritten rule or pre-requisite that British actors have to be classically trained or go to RADA/LAMDA and the like or have a bachelor’s degree in a university? Like you need some creds before getting a theatre job or in the telly. It’s a rarity for British actors to not have some background like this, and be equally good at it. I can only think of Kate Winslet who never really worked in West End/Broadway theatre for most of her career, though she trained in Redroofs. Same with Keira Knightley, though she did some plays.

I’m surprised with Carrie’s assertion of not having a formal training. If you’ve done high-profile work like Cinderella or Les Mis, people would expect so much more. I don’t think she’s going to do musical theatre for the rest of her life, right? Will she pivot to straight drama or do screen work?

Carrie Hope Fletcher should wish her name was Taron Egerton. Comparatively, this board is giving him a soft ride on his 'Cock' withdrawal.  

Not sure it could make things worse At the show I saw there was a clearly inebriated couple loudly commenting and randomly guffawing throughout the first act (they disappeared in the interval never to return) and then at the top of second act someone was sick in the rows in front - from conversations after the show it seems it was also drink related. And all this was at a matinee - some people can’t take their day drinking….