Liam McEvoy appearing in Legally Blonde musical in London

From being a talented young performer as a student in Steptacular Performing Arts in Firhouse, to now appearing in ‘Legally Blonde’ at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in London, 23-year-old Liam McEvoy’s career is going from strength to strength.

The Firhouse native, who is a past pupil of Coláiste de hÍde, followed his dream to work in musical theatre when he began studying at Laine Theatre Arts in England at age 18.

Since then, Liam has graduated from the college and developed his skills as a performer, which he brings to his portrayal of Bruiser on the Regent’s Park stage.

Now more than half-way through the show’s month-long run, which concludes on July 2, Liam told The Echo about his lifelong passion for being a performer, how he felt before taking to the stage for his first performance in ‘Legally Blonde’, and he offered advice to budding performers.

Your passion for musicals began when you were aged seven and joined Steptacular Performing Arts in Firhouse. Can you remember what it was about musicals that appealed to you so much at that age?

I always loved performing when I was growing up, but what made me fall in love with musicals was the idea of getting to sing, dance and act – all at the same time.

I grew up watching musical movies like ‘Annie’ so when I realised I could do something like that, I was hooked.

Your mam used to bring you to musicals when you were a child and you’d wait at the stage door to meet the cast afterwards. Did meeting the cast after performances help to demystify performing in musicals for you?

Meeting the casts at the stage door showed me that having a career in musical theatre was possible.

When you go and watch a musical, you go and watch characters on stage, but you meet real people at the stage door, which I found fascinating.

I’m so glad I had my mam to persuade me to speak to people at the stage door to ask for advice, because my passion just grew more and more.

When you were 12, you starred in Dublin performances of ‘Oliver!’. What was it like balancing your burgeoning musical theatre career with your schoolwork?

‘Oliver!’ was the most amazing experience, but I do remember it being difficult. We were off school for about two weeks for rehearsals, and we had to leave school early for shows.

The hardest part for me was the late nights and early school mornings. I won’t lie, I don’t remember doing that much schoolwork because I was so focused on the show.

Several years ago, you got into your dream college, Laine Theatre Arts. Has the experience of being a student there, and now a graduate of the college, lived up to your expectations?

Being a student at Laine was everything and more than I ever dreamed of! I had the best three years and I met friends for life.

However, graduating into a pandemic was very far from what I expected. It was extremely difficult to stay motivated and continue my training in my small flat in London.

I am so proud of myself for not giving up and powering through, and I believe everything happens for a reason. I’m where I’m meant to be.

You’re currently portraying Bruiser in ‘Legally Blonde’ at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. What did it mean, to you, to get that role?

Words can’t describe how special it was booking this job. ‘Legally Blonde’ has always been a dream musical of mine, and I never knew where I would fit into the cast, but I truly believe I was always meant to play Bruiser.

It was even more exciting knowing that I was the first human to ever play the role professionally.

But the best part was being able to ring my mam, dad and family and tell them the news.

They have all supported me so much over the years, so booking this job was a chance to say thank you and hopefully make them proud.

How did you feel on the first night of the show before you stepped on stage?

I felt very nervous, but mostly excited. We had six weeks of rehearsals, so it felt like all we were missing was an audience to share this amazing show with.

I will never forget the audience’s reaction to me on the first night, it was electric.

The show is running for two months, ending on July 2. How are you feeling now that you’re more than half-way through the musical’s run?

I’m trying not to think about it too much because I’m living the dream and I don’t want it to end.

However, I am excited for the future, and even more excited to fly home for a holiday and potentially teach some workshops to share the joy of ‘Legally Blonde’ at home in Dublin.

What advice would you have for any young people who want to pursue a career in musical theatre?

If you love it enough, do it. Go to every dance class, work hard and find the joy in it. I would also advise young people to take their time.

All I wanted to do was move to London as soon as possible, but I’m so grateful my parents made me wait until I was 18, because college is so intense and the industry is so tough that being that tiny bit older really helped me.

Also, life is too short to not follow your dreams!