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STORY
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie – West End
Theatre
Peacock Theatre
Duration
160 minutes
Age Restrictions
7+ years
In 2011, a BBC camera crew followed Jamie Campbell, a secondary school student gearing up for prom – and determined to come dressed as his drag alter ego, Fifi la True. Despite dressing up since the age of six, he still ran into issues over the plan: girls wore cocktail dresses, boys wore black tie. What was the dress code for Fifi la True?
Five years later, the resulting documentary Jamie: Drag Queen at 16 inspired a musical that became a runaway cult hit. Dan Gillespie-Sells, singer-songwriter of The Feeling, fictionalised Jamie’s story by upping the ante, relocating it to Sheffield and infusing it with wave after wave of fizzy, upbeat electro pop. Everybody’s Talking About Jamie tells the story of one boy’s battle against local bullies, bigots and small-minded school boards as he finds a community to call his own: Sheffield’s bustling underground drag scene.
But a show that initially seems to be a classic heartwarmer – the social outsider who overcomes the odds to take ownership of their own identity – turns out to be something subtler and slipperier.
Tom MacRae’s book cleverly shifts the focus as Jamie gets too big – and too bolshy – for his thigh-high boots. It turns its focus from the teenage drag queen determined to steal the spotlight to his supporting cast, quietly wrestling with identity of their own. His mother Margaret gives everything for her son. His mentor Hugo overcomes memories of intolerant times. His best friend Pritti Patel, who wears the hijab, also counts the cost of her clothing choices.
It is, however, Gillespie Sells’ score that really zings and it delivers earworm after earworm. ‘And You Don’t Even Know It’ is a catty, camp anthem that takes over a school classroom, while the title tune crescendo’s like the juiciest gossip coursing through a crowd. Songs like that leave plenty of room for a performance of real personality – and the current Jamie Layton Williams is charisma itself in or out of a cocktail frock.
CREATIVE
Cast and Creative
Cast
Layton Williams – Jamie
Rebecca McKinnis – Margaret
Bianca Del Rio – Loco Chanelle
Faye Tozer – Miss Hedge
Sejal Keshwala – Ray
Sabrina Sandhu – Pritti Pasha
Alex Anstey – Laika Virgin
Marlon G. Day – Jamie’s Dad
James Gillan – Tray Sophisticay
Daniel Jacob – Sandra Bollock
Luke Baker – Dean Paxton
Courtney Bowman – Fatimah
Ryan Hughes – Mickey
Zahra Jones – Becca
Emily Kenright – Vicki
Luke Latchman – Sayid
Jordan Laviniere – Cy
Harriet Payne – Bex
Ziggy Tyler Taylor – Levi
Marvin Charles – Swing
Rachel Price – Swing
Adam Taylor – Swing
Biancha Szynal – Swing
Momar Diagne – Understudy
Melissa Jaques – Understudy
Creative
Alan Menken – Music
Howard Ashman – Lyrics
Tim Rice – Lyrics
Chad Beguelin – Book, Lyrics
Casey Nicholaw – Director, Choreographer
Bob Crowley – Scenic design
Gregg Barnes – Costume design
Natasha Katz – Lighting design
Ken Travis – Sound design
Michael Kosarin – Musical supervision
Danny Troob – Orchestrations
Josh Marquette – Hair design
FAQ
Which theatre and where?
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is showing at the 775 seat Apollo Theatre which is located at Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D 7ES
How does it work?
Choose your seats via our live booking platform, once payment is completed you will receive an email confirmation with your booking reference number. Collect your tickets from the Apollo Theatre box office on the day of the show, a minimum of 30 minutes before the performance start time, print and bring along the ticket confirmation email. Tickets must be collected by the purchasing customer with a valid photo ID. Please have your booking reference number at hand when collecting your tickets.
Any Questions?
If you have any questions about your ticket purchase you can contact our customer services team on 020 3670 8887
Good to know
Strobe lighting is used several times during the performance.
Suitable for children?
Everyboy’s Talking About Jamie is recommended for ages 7 and above.
Cancellation policy
No exchanges or refunds available after purchase.
Can I video record or take photos?
The use of camera and sound recording equipment is strictly prohibited.