Everybody’s Talking About Jamie – Royal & Derngate

Once upon a time there lived a boy called Jamie. He always knew he was different and from a very young age he liked to dress in girl’s clothes.

Oh, there goes Jamie! People would say!

Following on from a record-breaking three-year West End residency, sold-out UK & Ireland Tour & Amazon studios award-winning film, the smash-hit & critically acclaimed musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie has arrived at the Royal & Derngate, Northampton, all this week until Saturday 1st June.

Jamies story is based on the real life story of Jamie Campbell, who being a resourceful 15 year old living in a quiet mining village in County Durham, decided to get his ambition of attending his, ‘school prom` in a dress, out to a wider audience by getting someone to make a documentary about his story. The result was Jamie: Drag Queen at 16 which was a huge hit on the BBC.

Jamie New (Ivano Turco) & Year 11 Girls

Of local interest to Northampton viewers was that one of the aspiring screenplay writers to get involved in the project to put Jamie`s story on to the stage was Tom McRae from Weedon Bec, Daventry, who went to school at Campion School, Bugbrooke. His mother was an Art teacher in Daventry.

The Margaret in Tom McRae`s head was me! How did he manage to write it without meeting me?

Margaret Campbell – Mother of Jamie Campbell

There were some excellent performances from a superb cast of actors, all of whom could act, sing, and dance! Many of the dance routines were simply spectacular, a huge round of applause to choreographer Kate Prince MBE.

The principal character and hugely talented Jamie New (Ivano Turco) stole the show. I was invested in his character right from the opening sequences. “The wall in my head” set the scene for an uplifting and emotional journey as Jamie struggles with the difficulties of school life, the bullies, the name calling and understanding his place in the world.

He`s just a boy who happens to be gay, and wants to be a drag queen

Ivano Turco

Support for Jamie comes not only from his mother Margaret (Rebecca McKinnis) and a family friend Ray ( Sejal Keshwala) but also close school friend & confidante, Pritti Pasha (Talia Palamathanan). Pritti tells Jamie that his name in Arabic, means Beautiful, and sings, “ It means beautiful”. It was a special moment in the show.

Jamie New (Ivano Turco) & Pritti Pasha (Talia Palamathanan)

His life takes on a fulfilling new direction and meaning when he meets up with Hugo/Loco Chanelle ( Kevin Clifton). Hugo encourages Jamie to follow his dreams and to be himself and take to the stage as drag Queen Mimi Me!

Hugo/Loco Chanelle – Kevin Clifton

“He`s my boy” is such a moving song, about the unconditional love that a mother has for her son. I am quite sure every mother in the theatre understood what Jamie`s mother Margaret New (Rebecca McKinnis) was singing about. It was a message she expressed perfectly with a stunning rendition to a spellbound and attentive audience, close to tears.

Yes, I do actually say “He`s my boy” about my Jamie, just as Margaret New sings onstage. I think she is wonderful.

Margaret Campbell – Mother of Jamie Campbell

Rebecca McKinnis provided another superb vocal and dramatic performance with her rendition of, “If I met myself again”, reflecting on her decision as a young girl to start a relationship with Jamie`s awful father (Akshay St Clair). When he tells Jamie that he is disgusted with him for wearing a dress and performing at `Legs Eleven`and that he had been hoping `for a real boy, as a son, when Jamie was born, as a father myself I was moved and felt for Jamie and his mother.

Jamie New (Ivano Turco) & Year 11

There was a well-deserved standing ovation at the end of the show. I spent the whole evening with a mixture of laughing at the jokes, angry at the injustices, tearful at the struggles that Jamie has to endure from father and classmates but uplifted by the actions of his mother, Ray, Pritti and Hugo/Loco Chantelle. It is a feelgood musical of the highest quality for the times we live in, of change and insecurity for many struggling with their sexual identity & mental health.

I left the theatre with a spring in my step, singing snippets of those memorable songs in my head and feeling very happy.  A show not to be missed!

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie – Royal & Derngate, 19-21 Guildhall Rd, Northampton, NN1 1DP

Box Office: 01604 624811