Lily in MYCO's Legally Blonde

It’s been a long time coming, but MYCO is finally returning to the Oxford Playhouse with a dynamic adaption of Legally Blonde.

Ready to burst onto stage with an all-singing-all-dancing cast of 48 teenagers, its eager participants have been rehearsing hard since September.

The Musical Youth Company of Oxford is a teenage musical theatre group for 12-19 year olds, based in Oxford, which produces one main show per year.

MYCO rehearsing Legally Blonde with Lily Butler

For MYCO’s creative director Guy Brigg MBE, bringing the popular musical to life, as personified by Reese Witherspoon in the iconic 2001 film, has been a massive labour of love, especially after cancelling their last production Chess due to Covid.

After cancelling Chess twice, Guy realised it would be best to cut their losses and start again with Legally Blonde. “It was a really tough decision, but you can only keep rehearsing the same show for so long, so we opted for the complete antithesis of Chess, something fun, glittery and pink.

“So it’s just been amazing to be able to get back into a rehearsal space again because I only have the right creative enthusiasm when I’m in the room with the students. I need their energy and vibes. Doing it on Zoom was a bit soulless,” he says.

MYCO rehearsing Legally Blonde

“So yes, Legally Blonde is a really big deal. We want to bring Oxford something new, bright and vibrant, something to lift us out of the doldrums.

“The world is so gloomy and tragic at the moment and we want to offer a moment out of that, to take everyone away for the evening for some frivolous fun and exhilarating music,” Guy adds.

“We have a got an amazing line-up and the lead this year is Lily Butler who plays the infamous Ellie Woods and is sensational. She is jaw-droopingly brilliant with perfect comic timing and that voice! And she has real strength of character, more feisty than ditsy!” Guy promises.

Lily Butler, centre, rehearsing MYCO’s Legally Blonde

Lily is only 16 years old and is a pupil at Blessed George Napier School in Banbury. Her endearing co-star, Mason Chandler-Wickens, who plays Emmett is currently studying with BoomSatsuma at Pegasus Theatre

Mason Chandler-Wickens with MYCO rehearsing Legally Blonde

Other company members include Max Wappner who plays Warner, and Freya Dobson as Paulette, an ensemble of 48 energetic and superbly trained young people, and some very cute dogs

“I’m really, really proud of MYCO this year. They have rehearsed so hard and it will be quite emotional on opening night for us all. To spread some joy and exhilaration. It’s a really exciting show,” Guy concludes.

Ellie meets Bruiser

So book to see Legally Blonde at Oxford Playhouse from Wednesday 13th to Saturday 16th April, enjoy the undeniably joyful songs and pink set, and the uplifting story of a fashion savvy young woman who chases a man to Harvard, and watch some of Oxfordshire’s most musically talented young people throw off the lockdown blues and perform live on stage again.

Book at www.oxfordplayhouse.com or 01865 305305