Everybody's Talking Great Things about Jamie

                                          Review  - Everybody's Talking About Jamie


In the real world there doesn't seem to be much joy at the moment.  Whatever you're politics, Brexit is polarising people and both in the UK and abroad everything in the news seems to be negative and worrying.  For me, theatre is an escape from this reality where I can lose myself for just over 2 hours and enter the world that the show is giving me.  If that show has a positive message of acceptance and inclusion, then this is even better.

Taken from a BBC documentary, this musical tells the story of 16 year old Jamie New, who is about to sit his GCSEs.  He has plans for his future, he wants to be a drag queen.  However, as he strives to achieve that goal he must first fight his first obstacle and be allowed to wear the clothes of his choice at his school prom.  To do this he has to persuade his teacher Miss Hedge (Hayley Tamadon).

With the love and support of family and close friends, we see his confidence grow, as he fights the prejudice of his father and the establishment to let the real Jamie New shine through.

Layton Williams is superb as Jamie.  He is funny and irreverent,  at times vulnerable, but also gutsy.  There is real joy in his performance. Jamie's friendship with his best friend Pritti (Sabrina Sandhu)  is sweet and genuine.  Polar opposites, they support and understand each other.

Jamie also feels that he has met a kindred spirit in Hugo Battersby (Shane Ritchie), especially when he tells him about the Legend of Loco Chanelle.

Even with this support, Jamie's biggest champions are his mother Margaret (Rebecca McKinnis) and Rae (Sejal Keshwala) who only want Jamie to be true to himself.

The strength of the bond between mother and son is shown in the beautifully haunting song 'My Son' which as a parent myself, brought me to tears.  There are also plenty of upbeat, catchy numbers, including 'Don't Even Know It' and 'Everybody's Talking About Jamie'.

This is an upbeat, fun show, with a positive message of acceptance.  You will leave singing the songs and with your day just that little bit brighter.

The show is currently running at the Appollo Theatre. 


For bookings visit to https://www.londonboxoffice.co.uk