Everybody’s Talking About Jamie by Kristian Thomas Company Review
Written by Emmie for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Kickstarting their 10th anniversary in style this Autumn is the Kristian Thomas Company (KTCo), a phenomenal hub in the Derbyshire area for creatives of all ages to engage in the performing arts. Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is the perfect choice for such a milestone celebration: a story that champions individuality, community, and self-expression, themes that beautifully reflect the spirit and values of KTCo itself.
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is based on a true story. Jamie New is a typical teenager who feels the impending pressure of figuring out what he wants to be when his GCSE year ends. With a huge passion for becoming a drag queen, Jamie embarks on a poignant journey of self-discovery and empowerment. But what has always been so beautiful about the writing of this show is that it’s about those people around him too. The coming-of-age story is incredibly relevant and timeless, considering its debut was back in 2017!
Directed by Alysha Gomes, this presentation of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is incredibly joyful and fantastically unifies the cast, with many alumni and faces of the company swapping the creative clipboard for the bright lights of the stage. Sam Holden and Chloe Hopcroft’s choreography is funky, dynamic, and a breath of fresh air - with so many variations for how they utilise the space and amount of ensemble to make a huge impact in the big musical numbers, with ‘Work of Art’ being a particular highlight worth waiting for! Matt Powell’s video design, supported by Ben Sherwin’s video, adds a much needed flair and is a huge asset to the production; it elevates so many parts of the show, which a ‘more traditional’ set design definitely couldn’t achieve otherwise.
It’s not just Jamie everyone’s talking about – this company is fierce and I could write over 1,000 words on how individually every person is an important jigsaw piece of this production!
Creative Director Kristian Cunningham takes on the iconic role of Jamie, bringing authenticity, charisma, and so much heart to the story. His rendition of “The Wall in My Head” is particularly moving; even this critic couldn’t hold back the tears. Kate Williams delivers a showstopping “He’s My Boy”, while David Covey brings the house down as Hugo/Coco Chanelle. Soleil Quarless’s Pritti Pasha is tender, grounded, and quietly powerful, providing the perfect balance to Jamie’s larger-than-life energy - her rendition of “It Means Beautiful” is stunning.
Overall, this company continues to shine and thrive, delivering an exceptional level of production value that makes it impossible not to support them (we have for nearly five years!) The gorgeous feeling of passion and a genuine love for what they do shows that being a standout force in the Derbyshire performing arts scene is the place where they belong! Well done team!
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie plays at Derby Theatre until 1 Nov
★★★★★
