Written by Beth
If you, like me, are a typical ‘stagey’ person with that inner theatre kid still firmly inside you, you’ll know that a love for musical theatre spills out into all aspects of your personality. There’s no compartmentalising your hobbies and interests; oh no, these characters flow out of you like a raucous symphony of emotion and glorious technicolour, unable to be contained. Pair this with a late-twenties quarter-life crisis in which you reevaluate your entire life and you may find yourself soul-searching for reality amongst the stories. Did I mention I was dramatic? In all seriousness, though, musical theatre has been a part of my life since my earliest memories and therefore there is no doubt whatsoever that these stories and characters have helped to form who I am as a person and from that I find true gratitude. These fierce, loyal and talented icons of musical theatre can teach us a lot and it is imperative we hold them close as we continue to dance through life.
So here are five musical theatre icons and what they have taught me!
Elle Woods - Legally Blonde
I am a nineties kid through and through so Elle Woods has always been a true idol of mine. Elle is unapologetically herself and turns a blind eye to what others think about her. Elle is living proof that you can chase your dreams (despite her original motivations being less than ideal) and still hold on to the very essence of what you are at the same time. She continuously pushes the boundaries of what is ‘acceptable’, brings glitz and glamour to the academic world and succeeds BECAUSE of her interests not in spite of them. In the musical, her reprise of Legally Blonde shows us her going ‘back in her style’ and reminds us to embrace the pink, the ‘girlish’ aspects of our personality and still go out there and bloomin’ smash it! And of course, the bend and snap is a skill for life!
Evan Hansen - Dear Evan Hansen
Evan Hansen is tricky character in the musical theatre world and not one that you would necessarily think to include on this list. His actions are problematic and he outright lies on multiple occasions. However, on reflection, many of us will have thought like Evan Hansen on many occasions. He longs for connection and struggles with loneliness and is not a character in black and white. From him, we can learn that whilst the truth may be a painful thing, it is always the right option and that those truly worth connecting with will love us for who we are. He reminds us to open up to those around him and share how he feels and the show as a whole reminds us that we can all be found. This show features so many wonderful messages; Requiem is one of the most beautifully honest portrayals of the complexity of grief that I have ever seen and Does Anybody Have a Map reminds us that really, everyone is making it all up as they go (yes, even those ‘real adults’ we all look up to). Evan may not be a character to put on a pedestal, but this show reminds us that life can be really difficult and that can’t be sugar-coated, but with love and support we can prevail.
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| Sam Tutty as Evan Hansen. Photo by Matthew Murphy. |
Elphaba and Glinda - Wicked
This may be the most cliche inclusion to this list, particularly with the show and film being so consistently present at the moment, but hey it is so popular for a reason, right? Both of these girls- later women- ultimately want the same thing. Elphaba is fiercely loyal to her cause, willing to forgo her own reputation and relationships for the greater good. She is unapologetically herself despite the world constantly telling her that she isn’t right as she is and tries desperately to help those around her and that she cares about. Glinda, on the other hand, sees the world in bright technicolour. She looks for the best in others and has a positive, optimistic outlook. When her bubble is burst and she finally sees the world for what it is, she still wants desperately to help and considers how she can do that in her own bright, ‘bubbly’ way. The two women are not without fault but are incredible friends, good-hearted souls and try to leave the world a little better than they found it, whether that be with a burst of action or a little sparkle. Something we can all aspire to do.
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| Zizi Strallen as Glinda and Emma Kingston as Elphaba. Photo by Matt Crockett. |
Eponine - Les Misérables
Again, a French Revolution street urchin trapped in a hopeless cycle of unrequited love? Really, Beth? Hear me out. What Eponine brings to the table more than any other musical theatre character is unabashed hope. Yes, her love for Marius is futile and ultimately puts her in peril, but even to the end Eponine is hopeful. Her upbringing and life circumstances have been brutally unkind to her and yet instead of becoming bitter and twisted, Eponine is an absolute fighter and still dreams of something better. Even her dying words (sorry- spoiler!) show that a little fall of rain can’t hurt her; never does she give in to the hopelessness that surrounds her existence. It is about more than just romance; it is about seeing the world for what it can give you, not what it takes away.
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| Shan Ako as Eponine. Photo by Danny Kaan. |
The Queens - Six
Oh what a show this is! Six is a total reclaiming of history. It reminds us that everything you have been taught may not be true, or at least not without nuance and bias. This show spins the narrative of Henry VIII’s story and reframes his fame totally, reminding us that he is only so famous because of his six wives and not the other way around. It also sends up the concept of the constant ‘battling’ of women between each other; a total feat of girl power and women supporting women rather than attempting to tear each other down and compete with one another. My best relationships are the friendships I hold so dearly with other women, and this show is a total reminder of why. Celebrate each other and hold each other up, and see what magic happens!
There are so many musicals with so many iconic characters that this list could go on and on (who knows- perhaps I could make a part two). Musical theatre is ultimately about presenting true, real life; its messiness, its heartache, its joy and its magic. The journeys these characters face reflect our own lives back at us as well as helping us to build empathy for those with lives different to our own. We can and should all seek to take magic and lessons from these stories, and seek to leave the world just that bit better than the way we found it.
Legally Blonde plays on a new UK and Ireland tour opening at Curve in Leicester on 7th February and plays throughout 2026. Tour dates and venues can be found at https://legallyblondeshow.com/
Wicked continues at London's Apollo Victoria Theatre. Tickets are available from https://www.wickedthemusical.co.uk/
Les Misérables continues at London's Sondheim Theatre. Tickets are available from https://london.lesmis.com/
Six The Musical continues at London's Vaudeville Theatre and on an extensive UK and Ireland tour. Tickets are available from https://sixthemusical.com/
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