Behind the scenes at Hamilton in the West End

The Lin-Manuel Miranda musical Hamilton has stormed the world, setting records on both sides of the Atlantic. But up until now, the backstage operations behind the show have been something of a mystery.
As part of our Road to the Oliviers series, we were lucky enough to offer people the first ever behind-the-scenes look at what goes into performing Hamilton - either here in the West End or on Broadway.
Get tickets: officiallondontheatre.com/sho...

[@Izzzybelle]

It’s so annoying finding out the amount of details in the entire show that you either don’t notice or can’t see. They are so dedicated to even the smallest details!

[@bentheslug1588]

DANG the crew is really underappreciated

[@Jacob_Roberts]

It sounds as if you have more people in the wardrobe department than in the cast.

[@Ant-gb1ep]

Probably is

[@savannahisnotvoiceless8454]

Arent musicals with huge casts like that? Especially period musicals. Like Phantom, Les Mis...

[@Jacob_Roberts]

I don't know, Savannah. I have never been in a professional production.

[@drewstanaway4058]

Most definitely. As a technician crew for shows you something have more crew/ costume assistances working on the show than actors!

[@kb2885]

I could have watched hours of this!! As someone who has only been used to being onstage, playing in the band or conducting, it blows my mind what goes on backstage to run a show!!

[@havepeaceonearth]

I've always been fascinated with backstage as the public rarely realizes the amount of work that goes into a show... And from looking at the program after I saw the Angelica tour a few months ago there's so much that goes on before the show they have to rent rehearsal Halls they have to have legal team of lawyers working on all sorts of things....the show it's a big business

[@a-mellowtea]

It's my dream to eventually work on a show like Hamilton. The work these people do is nothing short of incredible.

[@BurrShotHam711]

3:19 the letter that has Eliza's address on it is in Lin's writing (if i'm not mistaken)

[@wildchild6587]

BurrShotHam711 yeah

[@emmal9534]

Nah Lin’s writing is not that pretty, check out the Hamilton making of documentary, they showed some of Lin’s scribbles. Omg now that’s some twisted fonts

[@bubblegumanimations4561]

BurrShotHam711 when I saw the show in Chicago it was completely different. Peggy had a shorter fro, and Eliza had wavy hair instead of pippa’s natural straight and Karen Olivo as Angelica had curls in her hair, I kind of like how the actors don’t need to look exactly like the obc, because I don’t think that standards should be set for what you need to look like as a black actor portraying a white figure. It’s all inclusive and that’s what I like most about the show

[@chiakisbasketball6603]

Lam Emma he did said that he had terrible hand writings when a fan went up to him to ask if he could write it down so he can get a tattoo of it

[@KandeShack]

I was a follow spot operator for over 12 years in a semi-professional theatre. One thing I loved was being on headset and all hell could be breaking loose backstage but the actors onstage or the patrons never knew a thing.

[@Mehhhhhhhh]

My Hamilton phase is coming back. LIN STOP DRAGGING ME BAC.

[@lydikiti]

*Starry * drags you back to the Spotify page of the soundtrack

[@suicidal.session]

ME TOO AGAIN

[@muellermarco00]

@@suicidal.session just watched Hamilton (West End).. I think I'm gonna stay in that phase forever now.

[@KingdomHeartsFan3211]

1:41 Was that a Hamil-pun?

[@miranda814]

KingdomHeartsFan3211 most likely

[@CC-yt8hr]

Hehe

[@aprilfjckadcfhf910]

I don't know hamilfan.

[@bjmoaurea]

"This is the king's crown, its is full of GERMS" thats what i heard😂

[@itsonlyme18180]

So interesting seeing what the behind the scenes is like for my cousins work! I haven't seen the show yet but hopefully, i will in the future.

[@rdst6337]

1:41 Was that a pun or am I too obsessed with Hamilton

[@brishtisengupta7180]

I travelled down all the way from Scotland to see this. It was more than worth it.

[@clarradactyl7791]

i wonder if the crew ever gets a chance to see the show they help put together? they work so hard!

[@foraged_porridge]

I've always wondered why actors wear wigs in this show, even if the wigs look just like their normal hair. Does anyone know?

[@katherinewilkins4162]

Mia D sometimes it’s so that they can change hairstyles quickly. You can see this in the first vlog from Anastasia for Broadway.com.

[@elliesdiary7584]

Also maybe so all the hair for each actor or actres are the same

[@maddiee96]

Also so that the wires for the microphones can be covered up. Thats why even though the wigs still look like their real hair they wear wigs.

[@doglover2560]

It is because they hair can always look presentable and so that they can have the wires attached to them, but some actors don't wear wigs.

[@MarysSwagYouTubeChannel]

Mia D The original broadway cast wore their hair normally, just changing it up slightly if they had different character though.

[@jenniferyeung3831]

I’m in drama and that sound booth is crazy

[@ellieslade818]

I am sooooo happy

[@thegirlmady]

This is beautiful

[@darkangelw8472]

I'd love to work backstage. Anything within a theatre will do

[@lana_2218]

omg seeing this next month cannot waittttt

[@adriande1]

This is an incredible video. It's succinct, persuasive.

[@amelia1507]

My client needs a strong defence, you’re the solution

[@artvid-1915]

I love the clothes designers subtle Brummie accent 😂

[@yep4924]

It’s really interesting that some Americans are interested in English history, and some English people are interested in American things and history (counting Hamilton)

[@dfa3366]

Well America and England are bound together for the good and for the bad.

[@Budcat101]

fascinating

[@savannahisnotvoiceless8454]

They wear wigs?! I thought they just use their own hair!

[@dankhnw8]

Savannah Is Not Voiceless original cast maybe

[@bellabennett1677]

I know daveed used his own hair, im pretty sure anthony had to use a wog for phillip and lin used his own hair

[@emilyaranda2831]

bella bennett i feel a little lied to about Anthony

[@bellabennett1677]

i’m a rock and i rock anthony did use one, he mentioned it once.

[@emma6448]

i’m a rock and i rock jonathan HAD to, cuz he was the king with the whole powdered wig thing

[@inactive1973]

OMG

[@raisinhehe]

1:48 Maria, Washington and Angelica and some other people I can't make out are in 'the room where or happens' im so shook wtf

[@jordankch]

Philip is on the top right, and Eliza is farther to the right, but you can't see her there.

[@amyclarke41]

kool

[@taylordraws1410]

I wish I was in London 😪😪

[@verine6977]

oof i live there i hope you can visit it one day

[@yasmkm]

I wanna be in it I love Hamilton

[@lilla04]

omg Sharon! you guys I know her haha

[@katelynblalock545]

are ya'll coming to Houstion

[@bobbymcbrown1062]

Ꭵ ᏁᎬᎬᎠ ᏆᎾuᏒ ᏁᎾᎳ!!!

[@childrenaremaggots1969]

BURR

[@keba25]

Hamilton: bringing diversity to The West End!

[@blep7628]

*Hamilstones.*

[@meghanlazz2765]

Wait everyone in the show wears wigs? Why is there so many wigs?

[@marius1035]

Meghan Lazzarini usually so the mic won't show

[@rosiecurwen2779]

I’m pretty certain it’s actually because it makes it easier for each cast member to look presentable and the same from show to show. Especially with long hair, it’s difficult to get the hairstyle to look exactly the same as it did the previous night so they have wigs which are already styled and all the actors have to do is get their hair into pin curls then they are pretty much ready to go!

[@liduck52]

Keep in mind the time period that the show takes place and that hair styles were a lot different back then.

[@WHAATEVEN]

Weird that they use wigs instead of just using the actor’s natural hair. The costumes tell us who the characters are and it’s not like they’re trying to look like the actual historical people since that’s the whole point of Hamilton’s casting

[@JulietteReacts]

It's probably easier time-wise and easier on the actors' hair just to plonk a wig on top every day.

[@pinkmonster2333]

WAIT A minUte ThIs Is Nt the real halmitonaln

[@lupe2922]

why most of them are british