Review: Everybody’s Talking About Jamie at Nottingham Royal Theatre
A heart-warming musical of self-discovery provides plenty to talk about at Nottingham’s Royal Theatre this week.
Everybody's Talking About Jamie is the smash-hit musical inspired by the British television documentary, Jamie: Drag Queen at 16.
It tells the story of sixteen-year-old Jamie New, who lives on a council estate in Sheffield and doesn’t quite fit in.
The star of the show is Ivano Turco as the teenager scared of the future but determined to be his real self who becomesa sensation as a drag queen not afraid to take a stand.
From start to finish, the audience is engaged in the story as Jamie overcomes prejudice, beats the bullies and jumps from the darkness into the spotlight.
The musical shows the reality and difficulties of embracing one’s true self and shows that Jamie is and always was more than just a boy in a dress, but a fierce warrior ready to conquer his own dreams of becoming a drag queen.
Jamie made his way into the audience’s hearts with his smooth confidence and loud personality.
Talia Palamathanan plays Pritti Pasha, Jamie’s Muslim best friend who encourages him to be himself despite others' opinions despite her own incapacity of setting boundaries for bullies.
Rebecca McKinnis, who plays Jamie’s mother Margaret New, deserves recognition for her role as a parent who has to act as mum and dad.
The story explores the sensitive topic of family rejection and abandonment as Jamie’s father refuses to accept who he is including saying he is embarrassed of his own son.
It is a story that shows the importance of the support of family and friends in a world where being authentic is feared.
The cast, from those playing students, to the teacher Miss Hedge (Hayley Tamaddon), Ray who is a close friend of the family (Shobna Gulati) and Hugo, the crazy famous drag queen Loco Chanelle (John Partridge) were perfect from start to finish.
From the fast-paced dances and hit songs, the cast involved the audience throughout, adding vibrance and colour to the musical.
It is a hard-hitting story masked through comedy and pop songs that tells the story of fabulous Jamie who achieved the ultimate goal — being himself.
I had never heard Jamie’s story before watching the musical and I was surprised by the amount of emotion and drama the musical presented.
It was a strong musical capable of touching people’s hearts but also bringing out tears of laughter. — MT
