Everybody’s Talking About Jamie at the Crucible Theatre Sheffield Review
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie
Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
9-25 February 2017
Reviewed by Jenny Bray
This show was on at Sheffield Crucible. The Crucible is the modern theatre in the theatre complex in the city centre. It is quite easily accessed and there is plenty of parking nearby. Some car parks are very expensive though. The local Q park at Charles Street is my go to car park as it has an agreement with the theatres to offer the first hour free if you get a ticket from a member of staff at the theatre. The Box Office desk is to the left of the entrance and is always well staffed. On the right-hand side of the main theatre there is a bar. Staff also stand around selling ice creams during the interval. The staff are very welcoming and helpful.
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is a brand new musical based around a real documentary that was made about 16 year old schoolboy Jamie Campbell, entitled ‘Jamie; Drag Queen At 16’ (BBC, 2011). It isn’t a coming out story as Jamie is openly gay from the very start of the musical. It is also much more than a coming of age story. The 16 year old fought to wear a dress to his school prom.
It is the work of Jonathan Butterell, the producer, who worked with Dan Gillespie Sells, the lead singer and songwriter of The Feeling and Tom MacRae, a screen writer and author who wrote Doctor Who. It has taken them 3 years to complete it. They must have had great chemistry because together they have created an amazing brand new musical.
‘Out of the darkness, into the spotlight, a teenage sensation is coming’. Jamie New (John McCrea) is finishing school, openly gay and likes dressing up. His initial career analysis at school suggests that his ideal job would be a fork lift truck driver or a prison guard. He’s not convinced and wants to be a performer but his teacher tries to talk him down, which she does throughout the show, as does the school bully. His Dad doesn’t want to know him because of the way he is. However, his Mum, Margaret (Josie Walker), and her friend Aaliyah Begum, referred to as Lee (Mina Anwar), are very supportive of who he wants to be and of him finding himself. For his 16th birthday his Mum buys him some bright red, shiny high heels. He loves them but needs to gain confidence to wear them. His best friend, Pritti (Lucie Shorthouse), helps him build his confidence. Once he’s mastered his high heels he decides to go looking for a prom dress and finds himself in a shop specifically for drag queens. There he encounters Hugo (Charles Dale), who sets him up with his first gig in a drag club called ‘Legs Eleven’. He is then torn as to whether to go ahead with the show and has doubts about wanting to dress up, believing that life would be easier if he was ‘normal’ and not ‘disgusting’ as his Dad and the bully have called him. Before his school prom he and his Mum are called into the school and told that he will not be allowed to enter the prom if he is wearing a dress. He then has to make the decision as to whether to conform and wear the suggested tux or risk not being able to attend his own prom.
It is based in Sheffield and has lots of very obvious Sheffield references, from mentioning places like Meadowhall to some of the phrases used, ‘Ay up’ and ‘give us a love’ as examples. Pritti even manages to sing with a distinct Yorkshire slant to her voice!
It’s a real feel good musical that comes across as light hearted and fun even though it has a serious story to it that’s also based on real life. The cast were chosen really well, although the school teacher, Miss Hedges, could have done with being a slightly meaner and older looking person when cast as she fitted in a bit too well with the school children. The choreography is brilliant, with just the right level of attitude shown amongst the school children. John McCrea was a fantastic choice for the lead. He is entirely believable as Jamie and has some fantastic songs and great moves, including a fabulous strut, in high heels I would never have been able to walk in! Both his Mum and Pritti also have some great songs to sing. The interaction between each of them with Jamie is well scripted and choreographed too. During the song, ‘My Man, Your Boy’ Jamie and his Mum do an amazing duet.
The stage is very clever. It is often a classroom or part of the school. The background is grey school framework with moving sections that turn into other sets. There is a second floor that the orchestra are on, with glass in front of them. I liked being able to see the orchestra as they’re often hidden for shows like this. There are also sections of the flooring that turn to provide additional pieces of set, such as a bench.
The costumes are mainly either standard school uniform and every day wear or full, sparkly drag outfits. Some would say the latter are fabulous darling! The dress that changes colour is impressive! I would have liked to have seen Jamie from the front when he has his full gear and wig on as the audience doesn’t get to see the full set up from the front in one key scene.
You can tell that the music and lyrics have been influenced by a chart artist as they are catchy and upbeat. Although they are all part of the musical, some sound like they would be able to stand alone as individual tracks. I’m guessing that they’re aware of this already as the album is available to buy from the theatre.
The whole show contained quite a bit of swearing, which although worked in context, seemed a shame for if wanting to engage a younger audience. I think most parents of younger children wouldn’t want their child/ren exposed to that much swearing. The school setting and catchy tunes would otherwise have appealed to a younger audience and the topic would have been educational for them to see.
I really enjoyed the whole performance. It was engaging throughout with really captivating songs and great, very credible acting, dancing and singing. I would like to think that everybody will be talking about Jamie for some time to come!
I rate it 5/5 and highly recommend that you get a ticket for it while it’s still on. Just because it’s not already a well-known musical should not make it any less of a must see!
Rating: 5/5 
Tickets cost from £20.50 to £25 (booking fees may apply).
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield until 25 February 2017. For more infromation or to book tickets click here or call the box office on 0114 249 6000.
Crucible Theatre, 55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 1DA | 0114 249 6000
