Three LIPA grads part of Legally Blonde tour

An Acting graduate and two Music graduates are part of the new tour of Legally Blonde: The Musical. 

Annabelle Terry (Acting, 2016) and Karen Mavundukure (Music, 2015) have been cast as Vivienne and Paulette respectively, while Matt Spencer-Smith (Music, 2002) is musical supervisor and responsible for additional arrangements. 

The tour started at the Curve in Leicester in February and runs until January 2027, with a stop off at the Liverpool Empire Theatre in April. 

We caught up with Annabelle Terry to find out more. 

What can audiences expect from this production of Legally Blonde? 

This is definitely the Legally Blonde that people know and love - it has the same heart and vibrancy as ever, while being updated and set in the present day. Our director Nikolai Foster has such a clear vision and has been encouraging us to make the characters our own, which is a gift. The cast and creative team are phenomenal too! So, you can expect a great evening of theatre.  

Annabelle as Vivienne. Photography by Matt Crocker 

Tell us about your Vivienne? 

Vivienne comes from a family of Harvard alumni. She’s entitled and self-righteous, judging Elle for being different and not fitting her criteria of ‘worthy’. Sadly, she represents a lot of views we are seeing in the world today; however, she sees the error of her ways and realises that she was operating from a place of fear and intimidation. This gives her a huge character arc to play, and, in the end, she becomes Elle’s biggest fan and ally.  

The tour arrives in Liverpool in April, what's your favourite memory of your time in the city? 

I can’t come to Liverpool without the nostalgia of my LIPA days hitting me! So many good memories all over the city - walking down Bold Street, Cathedral Campus, the Baltic Triangle, the Pride Quarter. I can’t wait to be back - to play The Empire is a real privilege.  

You're working with two other LIPA grads - is there almost a shared 'language' or way of doing things? 

It’s always lovely when you clock another LIPA alum on a job. I think the LIPA ‘language’ is the ensemble-focused work ethic. I’m grateful to my training for grounding me in the knowledge that this job is a team effort - in all respects. I have a real appreciation for everyone both on and off stage and the huge amount of work that goes into putting on a production, especially of this size.  

What was the most useful thing you learnt at LIPA? 

Come with ideas, offers and the understanding that it is okay to fail - experiments often do before they succeed. 

Top image: Legally Blonde: The Musical cast members. Annabelle in the centre, Karen, front row right-hand side. Photography by Matt Crocker

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