Everybody’s Talking About Jamie At Theatre Royal Nottingham Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Louise Edwards
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie continued its national tour in Nottingham last night and for the rest of this week.
The stage is set up as a classroom and we can see behind the backdrop the band, led by musical director Danny Belton, is all getting settled. Once the drama starts the floor to ceiling backdrop changes from industrial to suburban and although you don’t see the band again the sound blasts out throughout the production.
The drama starts with the Year 11s of Mayfield School teasing their careers teacher Miss Hedge, played by Hayley Tamaddon, who is encouraging them to think practically about life beyond school. We meet Pritti Pasha, played by Talia Palamathanan who wants to be a doctor, the popular but homophobic Dean played by Jordan Ricketts and of course Jamie New, played by Ivano Turco, whose dream is to be a drag queen.
Pritti and Jamie are drawn to each other as they are both different to their peers. They stand up for themselves against the bully, Dean, who tries to intimidate and undermine them by calling them names.
It is Jamie’s 16th birthday and his mum, played by Rebecca McKinnis and her friend Ray, played by Shobna Gulati (who also played the same character in the film version of the story) welcome him home with cake, balloons and a shiny bright pair of red, patent stillents which he is delighted with! They reminisce about how he loved dressing up in heels and frocks as a child but Jamie is tinged with sadness as he remembers his dad being less than pleased.
At school the next day Jamie shows Pritti his new shoes and tells her he wants to wear to the school prom. Pritti encourages him to be himself and follow his dreams. On the way home he visits a drag queen shop where he meet Hugo, played by John Partridge who sympathetically tells him he needs to become his alter ego, find a name and get into character before going to the prom. He offers Jamie the chance to perform at a local club where he meets other drag queens, including the infamous Loco Channelle played by Hugo himself.
Jamie decides to visit his dad, played by Akshay St Clair, who now has a new wife and family. He learns a lot from the meeting, further highlighting his mum’s love for him and how you can’t make everyone happy.
It is 10 years since the real Jamie Campbell decided to wear a dress to his Year 11 prom and his journey inspired the story we now see on stage and screen. The original idea was captured by Jonathan Botterill, who saw a documentary about Jamie and his mum and thought how amazing it would be on the stage. He collaborated with Dan Gillespie Sells and TomMacrae to create the hit musical that today has a life of its own.
Directed by Matt Ryan and designed by Anna Fleischle this musical is a joyous delight. With themes of acceptance, both self-acceptance and acceptance in society, motherly love, friendship and being true to yourself the play is a rollercoaster of emotions.
Most importantly it is fun and by the end of the production everyone is on their feet for a standing ovation of a truly exceptionally talented cast and crew. Don’t miss this exceptional production on tour now.
Rating: 5/5
Tickets cost from £23.50(booking fees may apply).
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is at the Theatre Royal in Nottingham until Wednesday 30 September 2023, for more information or to book tickets visit https://trch.co.uk/whats-on/everybodys-talking-about-jamie-2// or call the box office on 0115 989 5555.
https://trch.co.uk/whats-on/everybodys-talking-about-jamie-2/
Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall, Theatre Square, Nottingham, NG1 5ND