We’re already big fans of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie here at GAY TIMES, having reviewed its London premiere and covered subsequent runs.
The feel-good queer musical which debuted in Sheffield seven years ago has gone on to become something of a phenomenon. With an extended West End run, followed by various tours, and now a feature film, it feels like nothing can stop the rise and rise of this hit musical – so it’s great to have the show back in London some four years since we were last able to catch it.
For those unfamiliar, it’s based on the real-life story of a teenager from Sheffield, Jamie Campbell, who at the age of 16 dreamed of becoming a drag queen and wearing a dress to his school prom, only to face prejudice from his teachers and his peers.
It was the 2011 documentary Jamie: Drag Queen at 16 which inspired this musical; in this dramatised version we follow Jamie New (Ivano Turco, who is a joy to watch), his mum Margaret (Rebecca McKinnis) and their family friend Ray (Shobna Gulati) who conspire to make Jamie’s dreams a reality.