Huge fun is the promise with Legally Blonde in Chichester

“I knew several members of CAOS through connections with other local amdram societies and I joined in 2021 for the production of Walking On Sunshine which was an online production for lockdown.

"And then I was involved in the first face-to-face in-person production after all the lockdowns when we were actually allowed to spend time together, the production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. I played the part of Muriel who is a wealthy... I don't want to call her a spinster! But she is a wealthy woman who gets entangled with the lead Lawrence.”

Emily then returned for the production last year of The Addams Family.

“And now it is Legally Blonde but I am not actually in it – though I was actually in a production of Legally Blonde before, back in 2015 with the South Downe Musical Society which was on stage at the Kings. I love the show and I just thought it would be lovely to be involved in the show in a slightly different way now.

“It is my first book show as musical director. I did help and support Night At The Musicals 2. My husband and I musically directed that but doing a book show is obviously completely different and I'm doing this one on my own. But it's really exciting and challenging because you're approaching the whole thing, looking at how the songs fit together with each other as a whole. And I do push things a bit. I'm a singer myself. I went to university and studied music many years ago and I continued my study to do a masters in musical performance so it's something that I have experienced with. My perspective in this is as a singer which is really exciting which means that I can help the principals access parts of their voice that they didn't know they had and help them question the way that they're doing it.”

As for the music: “It’s fun. It is such a basic word to use but it is just truly fun and joyful. It pulls from a lot of pop culture and it is camp and it is just really great fun. I think there can be a misconception that it's an easy show compared to some other shows but I would very much disagree with that. There's some really challenging vocals which the company are doing with ease but even the ensemble vocals are really challenging. The whole cast are really taking it on and I'm extremely proud of all of them.”

And Emily is delighted that the show is at is at Westbourne House School: “We have got something really special and immersive on our hands and I think it is going to be great.”

Tickets from www.caosmusicalproductions.co.uk.

Lauren Foord will be playing the lead role of Elle Woods.