Everybody's Talking About Jamie

Peacock Theatre

4.7/5 based on 231 reviews (read reviews)

Booking until: Saturday, 23 March 2024
Running time: 2h 40m (incl. interval)

This show is now closed

Couples (86%) Theatregoers (91%) i

Everybody's Talking About Jamie photos

Everybody's Talking About Jamie description

The book and lyrics come from by Tom MacRae. The plot was inspired by the 2011 BBC3 documentary, Jamie: Drag Queen at 16. This is a musical you won't forget in a hurry, a exploration of the emotional cost of being different, something that can be steep even in today's relatively enlightened times.

The show had its world première at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre in February 2017, beautifully directed by Jonathan Butterell. Now it's transferring to the West End's Apollo Theatre, running from 6th November 2017 to 21st April 2018 and starring most of the talented cast that rocked the rafters at The Crucible.

Welcome to the life and times of Jamie, a 16 year old boy from County Durham who has one burning ambition: to become a famous drag queen. The resulting story is touching, funny, outrageous and exuberant, a memorable coming-of-age tale that's surprisingly joyful.

As the Daily Telegraph reviewer Dominic Cavendish said, “I can’t think of a musical that has set me spinning right round (like a record, baby) quite as much as this funny, outrageous, touching but oh-my-word PC flag-waving show...The show sends you out on a feel-good bubble of happiness.” And the Times' critic gave it a “very rare” five stars. In her opinion it follows in the footsteps of Dear Evan Hansen, a smash hit of a show that totally cleaned up at this year's Tony Awards.

This is a musical that's definitely hit material, fully deserving of a West End run. Expect a defiant and brave exploration of the very nature of difference. The music is brilliant crowd-pleasing stuff, showcased on a popular concept album featuring John McCrea, who plays Jamie, with chart songstresses Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Betty Boo, plus Dan Gillespie Sells and Josie Walker.

As the character Jamie says, “sometimes you just have to grab life by the balls”. This thought provoking musical grabs audiences by the balls in the most wonderful, deliciously naughty way, a proper thought-provoker of a play.