Vocal Guardians
Caring for the voices of young performers
As experts in voice, we’ve worked for decades in West End theatre with young performers – including productions such as Paddington The Musical and Matilda The Musical – in rehearsals, auditions, and live performances.
In that time, we’ve seen how central children’s voices are to the work, and we’ve developed a clear understanding of what healthy, supported young voices need – across theatre, film and TV.
We want to create confident children, elevated performances, sustainable technique and voices that stay healthy throughout a run – and beyond.
That’s why we’re launching Vocal Guardians.
And now’s your chance to shape it. We’re piloting our programme with a select number of productions, organisations and training providers that want to truly support young voices.
Don’t miss out. Sign up to be part of it.
Meet the team
The expertise behind Vocal Guardians
Photo: Rankin. PERFORMANCE RankinLIVE x West End Theatre exhibition
Liz Flint
Voice & Dialect Coach
Liz Flint is one of the UK’s most respected voice, dialect and singing coaches, with extensive experience across the West End, the National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, Shakespeare's Globe, and leading regional theatres.
She is widely recognised for her work with young performers in theatre, film and television, and is often brought in to support children working at the highest professional level. Olivier Award-winning director Lyndsey Turner has described her as “the specialist’s specialist.”
Liz was Resident Voice Coach on Matilda the Musical from 2014 to 2023, where she supported hundreds of children through some of the most vocally demanding roles in musical theatre. She is currently working on the multi-Olivier Award-winning Paddington The Musical.
Alongside her work in theatre, Liz’s coaching spans television and film, working with young performers across a wide range of professional contexts.
Specialisms: Children’s voice coaching, dialect coaching, singing coaching, vocal technique
Penny-Anne O'Donnell
Speech & Language Therapist
Penny-Anne O'Donnell is a Consultant Speech and Language Therapist with extensive experience in paediatric voice, professional voice users and vocal care.
She trained at University College London and the National Hospital Queen's Square. In addition to running an independent practice her clinical posts have included specialist posts in paediatric voice within NHS trusts, alongside extensive experience with young voices from choristers to West End performers.
Penny-Anne has worked with Matilda the Musical since it started in Stratford Upon Avon in 2010 and she co-authored the original vocal care programme for the show. She also supports the UK Matilda Tours. Penny-Anne has worked with Cameron Mackintosh Productions, the Royal Shakespeare Company and Paddington the Musical . She is co-founder of Voice Camps Warwickshire, where singing and spoken vocal techniques are honed whilst producing a show in a week. She has trained with the National Youth Theatre and Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art.
Specialisms: Paediatric voice therapy, professional voice, vocal health assessment, breathing techniques. Neurodiversity.