Following a record-breaking three-year West End residency, sold-out UK & Ireland Tour and Amazon studios award-winning film, the smash-hit and critically acclaimed musical EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE returns to Cardiff this evening.
JAMIE is one of those shows which steps past its amazing songs, top flight choreography and really funny script – yes, it is all of those, but so much more. In fact, we’d go as far as saying it’s a culturally important show to see. It really is quite extraordinary. Take a look at the trailer HERE.
One of the stars of this brilliant show is SHOBNA GULATI. With a career taking in Coronation Street, the hilarious Dinnerladies and of course Doctor Who, Shobna has been a regular face on our screens for many years.
We had a chat with her recently about all those things, and so much more, even touching on her early days in a Boy George music video. We also spoke about her book ‘Remember Me’, which deals with the challenges of dementia. But we start with the show and why she thinks people are drawn to this joyous story.
The show opened in London 2017 and the reviews were instant and amazing. The cast vibrant and the songs, well, have a look at the video below and I think you’ll get a feel for just how inspiring they are. The phrase ‘feel good factor‘ gets used far too much, but in this case, it really applies.
Three familiar soap stars will join the cast of the hit musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie on its second visit to Wales Millennium Centre later this year.
HAYLEY TAMMADON (Emmerdale, Coronation Street) will reprise the role of Miss Hedge, having previously appeared in the West End production at the Apollo Theatre. Eastenders star JOHN PARTRIDGE (The View Upstairs, La Cage Aux Folles, Chicago, A Chorus Line, CATS) will take on the role of Hugo/Loco Chanelle, while Coronation Street favourite SHOBNA GULATI (The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, Brassic) will be playing Ray – a role she performed in the West End and the recent film – and she is fantastic by the way.
IVANO TURCO (Get Up, Stand Up!, Cinderella) will play the lead role of Jamie New, while REBECCA MCKINNIS (Dear Evan Hansen, We Will Rock You, Les Misérables) will also reprise her West End role of Margaret New, Jamie’s mother. TALIA PALAMATHANAN alia Palamathanan (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie Tour and film) will be playing the role of Pritti.
You can check out our review of the show last time it played the WMC, and see for yourself just how fantastic and experience it is – HERE.
EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE returns to the Wales Millennium Centre from tonight though to Saturday 28th October. Performances are at 7:30pm with a 2:30pm matinee on Thursday and Saturday. Tickets start at just £17.50 and now really is the best time to get them to make sure you get the best seats you can. For more details, and to book yours – go HERE.
It’s not often we print what the critics say, but in this case we will…….
- “It’s the real deal. Everyone really should be talking, singing, shouting about Jamie now” – The Times
- “A joyous punch in the air about following your dreams and being yourself” – Time Out
- “Irresistible: A joyous, life-affirming Billy Elliot” – The Independent
- “A True Big-hearted Crowd-pleaser” – Evening Standard
- “A Chuffing Marvellous British Musical” – Sunday Times
‘JAMIE’ can best be described along the lines of Billy Elliott – with attitude. The show is inspired by the 2011 BBC Three Documentary Jamie: Drag Queen At 16, and I suppose that pretty much sums up the plot. In the show however…
- Jamie is sixteen and lives on a council estate in Sheffield.
- Jamie doesn’t quite fit in.
- Jamie is terrified about the future.
- He is going to be a sensation.
Supported by his brilliant, loving mum and surrounded by his friends, Jamie overcomes prejudice, beats the bullies and steps out of the darkness, into the spotlight.
The whole JAMIE experience is terrific and we guarantee you’ll leave the theatre with every song in your head. But it extends way past what you see on stage – hence the ‘culturally importance’ we mentioned earlier.
You’ll leave the theatre with a message and it’s one we’d like to share here.
Jamie is all about self expression and being who you are, but as we know, that can sometimes have unpleasant consequences, particularly through social media. The musical is a supporter of The Diana Award.
The Diana Award is the only charity in memory of Princess Diana and her belief that young people have the power to change the world. Her sons The Duke of Cambridge and The Duke of Sussex are advocates for the charity, which supports young people through three key programmes;
- A mentoring programme for young people at risk
- A youth-led anti-bullying ambassadors’ campaign
- A prestigious award that publicly recognises young people – The Diana Award.
Alex Holmes is the Deputy CEO for The Diana Award. He told us…….
“The show encourages everyone, particularly young people, to be themselves and educates the audience about the power of language and the need to celebrate difference.”
The Charity runs the leading Anti-Bullying Campaign in the UK and Ireland, giving young people the skills, confidence and training to tackle all forms of bullying in schools, communities and online. One of their main projects is the Anti-Bullying Ambassadors programme which has trained over 32,000 young people across the UK to lead on anti-bullying campaigns in their schools and is free to schools across the UK.
To date, EVERYBOY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE has raised thousands of pounds through bucket collections, held a celebrity gala evening as well as a musical theatre workshop to raise awareness for the charity during Anti-Bullying Week. The real Jamie Campbell has hosted a self-esteem and confidence workshop, marched alongside the charity at Pride and participated in The Diana Award’s #Back2School campaign to support the 10 million children in school, over half of whom will be affected by bullying.
Jamie Campbell said….
“We shouldn’t have to live in a world where bullying exists and the best way to tackle it is through education. Charities like The Diana Award and their Anti-Bullying programme and campaign do great work in raising the self-esteem of individuals and it is an honour to be working with this charity.”
You can watch Jamie’s #Back2School video here.
The team have put together an education resource pack with top tips for promoting diversity in school. It also includes information about how your school can get involved with the programme and receive free training from The Diana Award for students to become Anti-Bullying Ambassadors. You can get that resource pack right here. PACK
SOUTH WALES LIFE was fortunate to be at the Olivier Awards at the Royal Albert Hall a couple of years ago, and believe me Everybody there was definitely talking about Jamie. Let us share a picture we took as the stage was set ready for the cast to perform a number from the show.
Incidentally, the movie is still available to stream it free with your Amazon Prime account. It really is everything you’d expect, and so much more. We loved it.
Directed by Jonathan Butterell (in his feature directorial debut) from a screenplay by Tom MacRae based on the stage show. The film stars Sarah Lancashire, Lauren Patel, Shobna Gulati, Ralph Ineson, Adeel Akhtar, Samuel Bottomley, Sharon Horgan and Richard E. Grant, with newcomer Max Harwood in the title role.
As amazing as the movie is, as you’ll see from the trailer, go and see the show. You’ll get more from the story and the songs when you see it live on stage – we promise you.
The soundtrack is phenomenal, take a listen to it here.
