Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, UK Tour (2014) Review
Written by Hollie for Theatre and Tonic.
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in return for an honest review. All opinions are our own.
Caution: This production includes strong language throughout, smoking, mild sexual references and strobe lighting.
After a busy and popular U.K. tour, the hit musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, based on the true story of Jamie Campbell, concludes its run at Leicester’s Curve this week to audiences of all ages. With school and college groups attending, as well as families and hardcore fans wearing hoodies, this is an extremely popular show for good reason!
Starring Leicester legend Sam Bailey as Miss Hedge, the school’s careers teacher, the production begins in the school classroom with the high school desks and smart uniforms setting the scene. The students at this average school in Sheffield are talking about their aspirations and dreams for the future, some of them more realistic than others!
Jamie’s best friend Pritti wants to be a doctor but Jamie dreams of becoming a drag queen. Since he was little he has dressed up in his mother Margaret’s clothes and wears high heels better than any woman, but he feels he can’t be honest about it and pretends to agree when Miss Hedge says that Jamie should be a forklift truck driver.
Sam Bailey played her character well, and almost came across as a bit of a Miss Trunchbull personality sometimes. It would have been nice to see more of Sam throughout the production with Leicester being her hometown.
Ivano Turco, who plays Jamie, is essentially Jamie. With legs as long as a giraffe and a superb singing voice, Ivano is the perfect actor for this role and is simply iconic. The first song ‘And You Don’t Even Know It’ sets the tone for the rest of the show and the audience is excited for what is to come.
For Jamie’s 16th birthday, his Mum buys him his first pair of high heels, and he is absolutely thrilled to put them on and practice wearing them around the house.
With support from his mother Margaret, played by Rebecca Mckinnis, Jamie decides that he wants to go to the school prom dressed in a dress. He is very nervous about his decision but decides to go down to the local drag shop as he decides he needs an outfit for his alter ego.
With a flurry of crystals, sequins and ruffles Hugo, otherwise known as Loco Chanelle, enters the story and builds Jamie’s confidence up by suggesting that he performs in the local drag club Legs Eleven, prior to his school prom. Kevin Clifton of Strictly fame, plays Hugo as well as Loco Chanelle and he is completely unrecognisable. Again, he has been very well cast and has a tremendous singing voice.
This show is a show which explores diversity and equality as well as religion and homophobia. The production, directed by directors Matt Ryan and Georgina Hagen, brings all of these timely issues to the forefront of the audience’s minds and explores them head on. The diverse and experienced cast of actors explores these subjects well throughout the show, and there were boos from the audience towards Dean the school bully and Jamie’s Dad, who both demonstrate homophobia and nastiness towards Jamie.
There are many stand out stars in this production and Rebecca Mckinnis, who plays Jamie’s Mum Margaret and Talia Palamathanan who plays Pritti, deserve a special mention due to their beautiful singing voices. Pritti’s duet with Jamie in her space-themed bedroom was superb and a highlight of the show for me.
The scenery, designed by Anna Fleischle, is really clever with its modular and cubist design. The way that the set was adapted to each scene was really effective and added to the production. All of these elements come together to make this show fabulously fierce and I would highly recommend!
This nearly sold out show continues at Leicester’s Curve until Saturday 20th July 2024 before the conclusion of the tour. This production is absolutely amazing and you don’t even know it!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
