Everybody’s Talking About Jamie

★★★★☆  Joyous

Festival Theatre: Tue 3 – Sat 7 Mar 2020
Review by Sarah Moyes

Luckily for this new musical, everybody is talking about Jamie, and for all the right reasons in this funny, heart-warming and joyous show which plays at the Festival Theatre until Saturday and tours to Glasgow in June.

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, on tour in the UK for the first time, is inspired by the 2011 documentary Jamie: Drag Queen at 16. The documentary was created after Jamie, who dreamed of becoming a drag queen, contacted production companies asking them to tell his story when his school told him he couldn’t wear a dress to his high school prom.

Layton Williams as Jamie. Pic: Johan Persson

The story is reminiscent of Billy Elliot, another young boy fighting against society’s views just to be accepted. Jamie and his mum made a special appearance at the Festival theatre for the opening performance, and they told All Edinburgh Theatre that the reason the show is set in Sheffield and not their hometown of Durham is because it would have had too many similarities to the well-known Billy Elliot story.

It all begins in a classroom where Jamie reveals to his classmates and teacher that he wants to be a drag queen during the opening number, And You Don’t Even Know It, a catchy upbeat song, which returns many times through the show.

Reprising his role from the West End production, Layton Williams is a triumph in the role of Jamie. He is perfect in his hilarious portrayal of the teenager who is sometimes full of confidence yet still struggles as he comes to terms with being a drag queen in public.

red high heels

However, it does feel like something isn’t quite right with Layton’s voice. At times his voice sounds either tired or as Layton has been unwell recently. While it doesn’t really effect his performance too much, you can tell he isn’t operating at 100%.

Shane Riche as Hugh. Pic: Johan Persson

When Jamie returns home from school that day, his mum Margaret played by Amy Ellen Richardson and her best friend Ray, played by Coronation Street’s Shobna Gulati, are waiting for him with his sixteenth birthday present – a pair of red high heels which begin his journey to becoming the drag queen he always wanted.

Also coming from the West End production is Shane Richie who takes on the role of drag dress shop owner Hugo, who also happens to be a former queen himself named Loco Channelle. Shane brings a wealth of theatre experience to the role as he heart-warmingly mentors Jamie through the most life-changing time of his life.

Since Jamie’s father, played by Cameron Johnson, is absent and dismissive of his decision to be a drag queen, Hugo steps in a father-like figure who even helps Jamie to book his first drag show. And, despite threats by school bully Dean played by George Sampson, the show goes on.

The music by Dan Gillespie Sells, lead singer-songwriter of The Feeling, with lyrics by Tom MacRae turns out to be a winning combination. There are some real gems here and they are given stand out performances from Richardson on the emotionally powerful He’s My Boy and, on the the sweet And It Means Beautiful, by Sharan Phull as Jamie’s best friend Pritti.

Jamie’s story is one of courage against adversity, but one that is full of humour and love too. A real joy to watch from start to finish.

Running time: 2 hour 40 minutes (including one interval)
Festival Theatre, 13/29 Nicolson Street EH8 9FT. Phone booking: 0131 529 6000.
Tuesday 3 – Saturday 7 March 2020
Evenings 7.30pm; Matinees Thurs & Sat 2.30pm
Tickets and details:  Book here.

ENDS

Tags: Amy Ellen Richardson, Cameron Johnson, Everybody's Talking About Jamie, Festival Theatre, George Sampson, Layton Williams, Musicals, Review, Sarah Moyes, Shane Richie, Sharan Phull, Shobna Gulati