UK Tour (2011)
Following an award-winning run in London’s West End, producers Sonia Friedman and ATG took Legally Blonde the Musical on its first UK tour. Using the same creative team as at the Savoy Theatre, the new show saw the set and cast reduced to accommodate a wide variety of regional venues. Premiering at the Liverpool Empire Theatre on July 8th 2011, the original cast included Faye Brooks as Elle, Dave Willetts as Professor Callahan, and the role of Paulette was split between two Liverpool celebrities, Liz McClarnon (Atomic Kitten) and Claire Sweeney (Brookside).
Cast
Elle Woods – Faye Brookes (later Amy Lennox)
Emmett Forrest – Iwan Lewis (later Stephen Ashfield)
Warner Huntington III – Neil Toon (later Ray Quinn, Gareth Gates)
Paulette Bonafonte – Liz McClarnon, Claire Sweeney (later Niki Evans, Jennifer Ellison)
Professor Callahan – Dave Willetts (later Matthew Kelly, Les Dennis)
Brooke Wyndham – Hannah Grover
Vivienne Kensington – Charlotte Harwood
Kyle – Lewis Griffiths
Tour Venues
Liverpool Empire, Liverpool
8th – 16th July 2011
Bristol Hippodrome, Bristol
19th July – 6th August 2011
Grand Opera House, York
9th – 20th August 2011
Theatre Royal, Glasgow
23rd August – 3rd September 2011
Edinburgh Playhouse, Edinburgh
6th – 17th September 2011
Regent Theatre, Stoke
20th September – 1st October 2011
New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham
4th – 15th October 2011
Opera House, Manchester
18th – 29th October 2011
Princess Theatre, Torquay
8th – 19th November 2011
Theatre Royal, Nottingham
22nd November – 3rd December 2011
Sunderland Empire, Sunderland
6th – 31st December 2011
Cliff’s Pavillion Theatre, Southend
17th – 28th January 2012
Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury
31st January – 11th February 2012
Liverpool Empire, Liverpool
7th – 11th February 2012
Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield
14th – 25th February 2012
Theatre Royal, Norwich
28th February – 10th March 2012
Theatre Royal, Brighton
13th – 24th March 2012
Montfort Hall, Leicester
27th March – 7th April 2012
Grand Opera House, Belfast
24th April – 5th May 2012
New Victoria Theatre, Woking
7th – 19th May 2012
His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen
22nd May – 2nd June 2012
Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury
4th – 11th June 2012
Southampton Mayflower, Southampton
18th – 25th June 2012
Alhambra, Bradford
2nd – 9th July 2012
New Theatre, Oxford
17th – 21st July 2012
Theatre Royal, Plymouth
24th – 28th July 2012
Milton Keynes Theatre, Milton Keynes
31st July – 11th August 2012
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
14th – 25th August 2012
New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham
28th August – 1st September 2012
Grand Opera House, York
4th – 8th September 2012
Opera House, Manchester
11th – 22nd September 2012
New Wimbledon Theatre, Wimbledon
25th September – 6th October 2012
Reviews
“TV favourite Ray Quinn is perhaps best known for his role in Brookside and for winning ITVs 2009 series of Dancing on Ice. However, he also has numerous theatre credits to his name and in taking on the role of Warner Huntington the Third, Elle’s ex-boyfriend, he has successfully made the transition from cheeky chappy to bona-fide heartthrob. His soulful voice and suave stage presence make him the perfect love interest. Legally Blonde is, beyond reasonable doubt, one of the best musicals of the year simply incredib-elle!” – STV Aberdeen City
“The show itself is relentless and ridiculous in the absolute best sense. While seemingly frivolous, Legally Blonde does have an underlying message of overcoming odds through hard work and tenacity and staying true to yourself, which is hardly a bad ideal to be instilling in the flocks of young girls and women who will make up the majority of the audience. Which they shouldn’t, because this show is immediately accessible for all sexes and ages.” – Entertainment.ie
“From the moment the curtain opens, you are roped into an exciting and fun-filled evening with a soundtrack that will be on repeat in your head throughout the next day. The catchy songs are clever and witty, accompanied by a brilliant orchestra.The songs are sung with power, passion and conviction making the audience engage and relate to the lyrics.” – Berkshire Life
Trailer