By Michelle Rawlins
There’s a reason Everybody’s Talking About Jamie – it’s an absolute showstopper of a production which bursts onto the stage with all the energy and pizzazz you would expect from a West End hit.
The adaptation, which was inspired by the 2011 BBC documentary about a teenage boy who dreams of being a drag queen, is back in Sheffield, where it was first staged at the Crucible in 2017, as part of its UK tour.
Following the show’s initial success, it has toured extensively, including a long stint on the West End, appearances in the US and it’s now being turned into a major motion picture.
For those new to the story, Jamie is 16 and desperately trying to escape the bigotry and small-minded attitudes of the working-class suburb he’s grown up in. He’s doing everything he can to swap his drab school uniform for a pair of high heels and a glitzy dress.
Originally directed by Jonathan Butterell, it’s now overseen by Matt Ryan. And this poignant tale is as much about a young boy finding himself, as it is about the power of friendship and the devotion of a mum who is determined to do what it takes to ensure her son goes through life knowing she will always have his back.
Every single element of this show works seamlessly. From the impressively sharp choreography, under the tutelage of Kate Prince, to the perfectly crafted storytelling music, by The Feeling’s frontman, Dan Gillespie Sells. It’s virtually impossible not to sing along to the upbeat ‘And You Don’t Even Know It’ or to feel your heart being pulled by ‘He’s My Boy’.
Jamie, performed by Ivano Turco, captures the inner soul of a boy trapped in a skin he is desperate to shed. Everything about him screams ‘set me free to be who I want to be’, delivering the right balance of being playfully camp to wondrous and determined.
In the main, Jamie steals the show – well, everuybody is talking about Jamie after all. But this is a mighty cast, brimming with one stellar performance after another. There’s the energetic and vibrant Year 11 ensemble. And the wonderfully antagonistic teacher, Miss Hedge (Sam Bailey), whose vocals once earned her a standing ovation from The X Factor judges. Then there’s the brilliantly comic trio of drag queens, who include former Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer, Kevin Clifton.
Rebecca McKinnis packs a punch as Jamie’s mum, Margaret. She pours every fibre of her being into showing that unbreakable bond between mother and son. She’s accompanied by best pal, Ray, (Sejal Keshwala) who is the no nonsense, straight speaking friend we all need to keep us upright.
Jamie’s lovely best friend, Pritti Pasha, (Rhiannon Bacchus), who has the sweetest of vocal, faces her own problems. She’s growing up in a strict household and tackles more than her fair share of racist remarks. But she’s always on hand to bolster her friend with a large sprinkling of affection.
While Everybody’s Talking About Jamie highlights so many of the wrongs in today’s society, from the poverty so many are born into leaving so many believing they can’t succeed, this is a show that exudes joy and inspires you to follow your dreams.
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is showing at the Lyceum sheffield until April 20, then touring
Tickets available are here
Photos by Matt Crockett