Legally Blonde

 12^th February 2026

Curve, Leicester

“Keep it positive!”

Let me begin by saying I love Legally Blonde. It’s fluffy and feel-good. Yes, it has been dismissed as bubblegum feminism, but the message it sends out to women and girls is commendable; celebrating supportive female relationships and the importance of staying true to yourself. And everyone loves a good courtroom drama, right? I have watched the film more times than I’d care to admit… so when it came to seeing Nikolai Foster’s latest production of Laurence O’Keefe, Neil Benjamin and Heather Hach’s 2007 musical I admit that I was predisposed to enjoy it. And having seen Curve’s previous production of Legally Blonde nearly exactly 10 years ago, I’m pleased to say that this latest venture proves just how much the company has grown as a producing theatre under the direction of Foster and Chief Executive, Chris Stafford. The show is as slick as any in the West End, and the technical and design aspects are at an all-time high.

 

The pre-show playlist features several songs from the recent Barbie movie, setting the tone for the evening. The theme bleeds into many of the design elements, with Colin Richmond’s set incorporating cute miniature buildings of the Delta Nu sorority house, the hallowed halls of Harvard Law School, and even the trashy caravan inhabited by Paulette’s ex, Dewy. The doll’s house aesthetic perfectly fits the pristine world in which we first encounter Elle, with more substantial sets slowly inhabiting the stage as our heroine begins to ground herself in more real, ‘serious’ realms. The Barbie influence is a natural stroke of genius, with even the neon show curtain feeling reminiscent of the classic toy logo. Similarly, Tom Rogers’s costumes are colourful and glam adult-size versions of the dress-up outfits we all enjoyed playing with as children.

 

Exuberant performances, and energetic choreography perfectly matches the effervescent production design. The ensemble is extremely hard-working and display true triple-threat talent, especially the female cast members. Amber Davies is an extremely likable Elle with a nicely understated comic touch that ensures the character feels contemporary and never strays into caricature territory. She is backed up by solid supporting performances from the likes of George Crawford’s bookish Emmett and a scene-stealing Karen Mavundukure as the kind-hearted but down-trodden salon owner, Paulette. Mavundukure’s rendition of ‘Ireland’ is both funny and touching, bringing a depth to the character that has perhaps been overlooked previously.

 

The more-than-game audience lapped up the humour, the camp, and the sass on display, with the second half especially gaining a rapturous response. ‘There, Right There’ being a particular highlight in which the whole ensemble shine. I’ve also come to the conclusion that there really is nothing an audience likes more than seeing a dog (or two) on stage – guaranteed ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’! Sprout (Bruiser Woods) and Milo (Birthday boy, Rufus) earned every penny of their appearance fee!

 

It’s heartwarming to spend an evening enveloped in the fluffy, girly world of Elle Woods and I came out of Legally Blonde humming the songs and feeling slightly better about the world. As a piece of good-natured, poppy musical theatre it’s nigh on impossible to dislike, and with the current scheduling a perfect Galentine’s treat!

 

Legally Blonde plays at Curve until 21^st February before touring the UK and Ireland.

For more information and full tour dates please visit: Tour Information - Legally Blonde

 

Amber Davies as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde. Credit Marc Brenner