Why Emma Swainston is in the pink as she takes on dream role of Elle Woods in York Light Opera Company’s Legally Blonde

Emma Swainston’s Elle Woods in York Light Opera Company’s Legally Blonde The Musical, opening at York Theatre Royal on Thursday. Picture: Matthew Kitchen Photography

OMIGOD You Guys! Emma Swainston will be playing her “dream role” of Elle Woods in York Light Opera Company’s staging of Legally Blonde The Musical from Thursday at York Theatre Royal.

“I’m thrilled,” she says. “Growing up, I watched Reese Witherspoon, who was so incredible as Elle in the original film [made by Australian director Robert Luketic in 2001]. Elle is such an icon and her story is so empowering that I used to watch the film on video, on repeat, in my room.

 “I then followed the stage show’s progress ever since it was brought to Broadway with Laura Bell Bundy as Elle about 12 years ago, when I was 18.  I’d listen to the music through headphones when the soundtrack first came out – and I got obsessed with it because it’s so inspiring.

“The music and the lyrics are just brilliant, true to the story, but with extra details put into the lyrics, so you have to listen quite hard. You really feel the message of self-discovery and female empowerment.”

Quick refresher course: Elle Woods is a “seemingly ditzy sorority girl with a heart of gold, who tackles Harvard Law School to win back her man” in this sassy and stylish award-winning musical comedy with music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin and book by Heather Hach.

Along the way, Elle discovers her own strength and intelligence, “proving that you can be both a beautiful blonde and brilliant”.

“Although times have moved on, there is still that stereotypical blonde image, and she does wear that pink suit [like Leanne Quigley, the British Army veteran, pointedly did when winning the third BBC series of The Traitors].

“But Elle’s determination to break through the barrier of expectations is so empowering. Just be yourself, she says.”

Directing his third production of Legally Blonde after Bournemouth and Newcastle a decade ago, Martyn Knight says of his choice of Emma for his lead: “You could judge by the cover, and the book looked perfect…she was perfect for the role, blonde with the look of a wonderful vamp, but it was more than that.

“Emma and her sister Sarah [Craggs] have played leads for me before, and when Emma came in, I thought, ‘this is it’. We are spoilt for choice in York, but Emma has, dare I say, star quality – and she works so hard in rehearsal.”

Martyn shares Emma’s passion for the show’s message. “As I grow older – I’m nearly 70 – I think, ‘people should be whatever they want to be’. A lot of people see it as a frothy musical, but it’s not. It’s as powerful as Fiddler On The Roof, but obviously in a lighter form, and the message is something we should not let up on.”

Emma had singing lessons in York with Margaret Berg from the age of 14 to 18 and dancing lessons with Rebecca Davies as a teenager at Huntington Dance School before graduating with a First in musical theatre at the University of Central Lancashire, Preston, nine years ago.

Later, when she felt “something wasn’t quite right” about her voice, a camera inspection revealed a nodule in her throat. “Luckily, it didn’t grown any further but it sort of knocked my confidence, thinking I couldn’t do it professionally,” she recalls.

“So I did a Masters in creative producing at Mountview Academy [of Theatre Arts] and I lived and worked in London while I was studying but decided London was not right for me.”

Emma now balances creativity in her professional career in Leeds with performing in York. By day, “I work full time as a senior project manager for The Brand Nursery, a design consultancy in Hunslet,” she says.

By night, she can be found singing with sister Sarah at private functions as The Bella Belles, as well as appearing in such shows as Doctor Doolittle, The Railway Children, Fiddler On The Roof and as Sister Mary Leo in York Light’s Nunsense: The Mega Musical at Theatre@41, Monkgate, last summer. Sarah, by the way, will be performing in Legally Blonde too, playing Margot.

Roll on tomorrow.’s opening night. “Elle is a really inspiring character and I can’t wait to share her journey with the audience,” says Emma. “She goes through such an emotional rollercoaster, with moments of humour versus vulnerability throughout, and I love how she breaks through ‘the fourth wall’ by singing directly to the audience.”

You can sense Emma’s exhilaration in performing when she says: “Especially in a production like Legally Blonde, that moment of breaking free from societal expectation, I love it! It’s so intoxicating. It’s a feeling you don’t get anywhere else but on stage. That’s why we do it.”

You will note the change of stage name from Emma Craggs to Emma Swainston (and indeed from Emma Craggs-Swainston, briefly, for Nunsense: The Mega Musical). “I got married 18 months ago,” she explains.

Husband Brad Swainston is not involved in musical theatre. “It’s sport for him,” she says. “He plays padel and tennis.”

Talking of physical exertion, Emma will, of course, be doing “The Bend And Snap” in Legally Blonde. How is Elle’s trademark move coming along? “It’s good,” she says. “I think I’ve mastered it!”   

York Light Opera Company presents Legally Blonde The Musical, York Theatre Royal, February 13 to 22, 7.30pm nightly except February 16; 2.30pm, February 15, 20 and 22. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.

York Light Opera Company to stage Legally Blonde The Musical at York Theatre Royal with Emma Swainston as Elle Woods

“I’m thrilled to be playing Elle Woods,” says Emma Swainston. “It’s a dream role!” Picture: Matthew Kitchen Photography

OMIGOD You Guys! Legally Blonde The Musical is coming to York Theatre Royal in York Light Opera Company’s fabulously pink production from February 13 to 22.

The sassy and stylish award-winning musical comedy with music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin and book by Heather Hach is directed by Martyn Knight.

Emma Swainston will take the role of Elle Woods, a seemingly ditzy sorority girl with a heart of gold, who tackles the strictures and preconceptions of Harvard Law School to win back her man. Along the way, Elle discovers her own strength and intelligence, “proving that you can be both a beautiful blonde and brilliant”.

York Light Opera Company’s full cast for Martyn Knight’s February production of Legally Blonde The Musical. Picture: York Light Opera Company

Based on Amanda Brown’s novel and Australian director Robert Luketic’s 2001 film for MGM, Legally Blonde The Musicalis billed as a fun, feel-good show with a powerful message about staying true to yourself. 

Martyn Knight says: “We are so excited to bring this empowering and hilarious show to York. Our production will celebrate Legally Blonde’s joy and energy while highlighting its important message of self-discovery and female empowerment.”

Emma Swainston will be following up her appearances on the York stage in Doctor Doolittle, The Railway Children, Fiddler On The Roof and as Sister Mary Leo in York Light’s Nunsense: The Mega Musical! at Theatre@41, Monkgate, last summer.

“Elle is a really inspiring character and I can’t wait to share her journey with the audience,” says York Light lead actress Emma Swainston

She will be part of a cast of 35, also featuring Zander Fick as Emmett Forrest, Emily Hardy as Paulette Bonafonte, Neil Wood as Professor Callahan, Emily Rockliff as Vivienne Kensington, Helen Miller as Enid Hoopes and Pippa Elmes as Brooke Wyndham.

Emma says: “I’m thrilled to be playing Elle Woods; it’s a dream role! Growing up I watched Reese Witherspoon play Elle in the original in the film on video, on repeat… and she’s such an icon. Elle is a really inspiring character and I can’t wait to share her journey with the audience.”

York Light Opera Company presents Legally Blonde The Musical, York Theatre Royal, February 13 to 22, 7.30pm nightly except February 16; 2.30pm, February 15, 20 and 22. February 17’s performance will be British Sign Language Interpreted. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.

York Light Opera Company’s poster for Legally Blonde The Musical at York Theatre Royal