Who’s everybody talking about? I mean, Jamie, obviously, and for good reason, too. Who can resist a musical, first of all, but also one that holds a message about confidence and self-belief? About a young boy we actually root for? Sign me up. 

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is a story about a sixteen-year-old boy called Jamie, who is faced with the alarming decision of what he wants to do for the rest of his life. He is certain of what he wants to do, he wants to be a drag queen. His career teacher, Miss Hedge, has other ideas, and tells him to be more realistic about his ambitions. Jamie holds some self-doubt, and starts to believe she might be right, but then he meets infamous drag queen Loco Channel, or Hugo. Hugo teaches Jamie about having confidence and lands him a gig at the local spot, Legs Eleven. Jamie now has the dress, the shoes, and the stage he needs to kickstart his dreams, but be soon realises it won’t be easy to achieve them. Especially with not only his past holding him back, but also his school bully.

The show opens with the most accurate portrayal of year 11s; sassy sixteen-year-olds that seem to be totally unbothered by their exams right around the corner. Their interactions with their teacher, joking around and being a little loud-mouthed, certainly sets the tone for the rest of the performance. Also, these kids can dance. And sing. And steal my heart. Whilst Jamie is, no doubt, the star of the show, all of the kids get their moments. The characters have more personality in their few lines than some characters can display over an entire show. The chemistry they have interacting with each other shows immense attention to detail. Of course, the favourite has to be Pritti Pasha (Talia Palamathanan) who casually channels Adele to uplift Jamie, like it’s no big deal. Her heart-warming friendship to Jamie pushes him to become his authentic self, a beautiful message for the audience to engage with.

The most impressive part of this production is the set for the legendary Loco Chanelle (Kevin Clifton). Clifton commands the stage as he tells the intriguing story of Chanelle through an intense number. All eyes are on Chanelle in her blood red dress as she seeks revenge against the man who wronged her, a stunning display. Jamie (Ivano Turco) creates a perfect opposition in his own performance in the dress, dazzling the crowd in a way that powerfully lets us know he is not a replica of Chanelle, but his own persona. Their moments together are iconic, but also sweet as they bond over their shared struggles. The more the uncover about themselves, the more authentic it is. It develops their characters and their relationship into a relatable, raw experience.

Whilst this show has several fun dance numbers, it also has quite a few heavier scenes. Notably, Jamie struggling to move on from his Dad’s refusal to accept him for who he is. However, it also addresses how Jamie’s mum, Margaret (Rebecca McKinnis), is struggling to move on from Jamie’s Dad, and in turn, her youthful fantasy of them being a family. Her song “If I Met Myself Again” is simply monumental, and beautifully describes her struggle of wishing she could change things, but knowing herself well enough that she would likely do everything the same again. It also acknowledges that out of her struggles, she was able to find happiness in Jamie. It is an ode to many single parents, and a soft reminder that the past cannot be changed. The only downside is sometimes, with these meaningful moments, there is not enough time to fully envelope us in their feelings. After Jamie and his Mum’s fight, I feel there could have been a little more time to soak up the awkwardness of the atmosphere instead of going straight into a song. It would have felt a little rawer.

I enjoyed this show a lot. It holds an important overall message and upholds a plot that is easy-to-follow, whilst having depth. The actors perform wonderfully to create a story that can be told for generations.

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie runs at Royal and Derngate until Saturday 1st June

Photo credit: Matt Crockett