Summary

Rating: ★★★★★

Running Dates: Monday 25th March - Saturday 30th March

Where to see it: Bristol Hippodrome

Duration: 2 hours, 40 minutes (including interval)

Keywords: Moving, Uplifting, FABULOUS!

Review

ETAJ is a beautifully constructed production. It plays with humour, crude jokes, sarcasm and wit.

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (‘ETAJ’) has been a household name for some time now. The production has already toured the UK and Ireland, spent 3 years on the West End and has been made into an award-winning film! There is, of course, an obvious reason for the production’s resounding success.

Despite having listened to a few of the songs (it is quite impossible not to bop along when one pops up on Spotify), I’d done well to avoid any spoilers before seeing the performance myself. I have been exercising the utmost self-restraint in not watching the film on many dreary Sunday afternoons. As hard as that has been (*audience cue: awww*), it was totally worth waiting to see the production, for the first time, on stage.

You may know that ETAJ is based on a true story! Our awe-inspiring protagonist, Jamie New, is based upon real-life Jamie Campbell. Jamie’s story was first told in a documentary Jamie: Drag Queen at 16 (which is still available on BBC iPlayer!) which landed on the TV screen of theatre director Jonathan Butterrell…and the rest is history.

The cast of the show includes X Factor’s Sam Bailey (what a throwback!) and Strictly Come Dancing’s Kevin Clifton. Other big players include Ivano Turco as Jamie himself and Rebecca McKinnis as Jamie’s mother, Margaret.

After her rendition of Skyscraper in 2013, we all know Sam Bailey is going to blow us away with her vocals (and blow she did), but was I the only person that didn’t know that Kevin Clifton can sing?! 

Clifton tackled the complex character of Hugo; Hugo is multi-layered and three dimensional. He initially appears to be dismissive, masculine and curt but is soon revealed as his feminine and outgoing self. As if that was not enough, Clifton also portrays Hugo’s Drag Queen alter-ego, Miss Loco Chanel. His performance was exemplary; he is a true triple threat!

Speaking of vocals, Rebecca McKinnis gave me goosebumps with her performance of ‘He’s My Boy’ and ‘If I Met Myself Again’. 

And, of course, the wonderful Ivano Turco gave an incredible portrayal of Jamie. Turco is the fourth person to portray Jamie New which must be daunting by anyone’s standards. However, from a mere layperson’s perspective, he is a perfect fit for the role. He is powerful yet vulnerable, sassy yet classy, glamorous yet simple.

The production utilised a dynamic set design which continually transformed and made efficient use of the space available - the added detail of the presence of the band onstage gave the set another layer of dimension. The design also played with projection which was used simplistically yet effectively. Not to get too technical, but the physical projection latched onto the emotions being portrayed within the show and, metaphorically, projected the same.

Now, a quick snapshot into the story itself!

As the performance begins, we meet the Year 11s at Mayfield School. The pupils are introduced and, finally, we reach Jamie New. In no time at all, the cast break out into song in the performance of ‘Don’t Even Know It’ (absolute bop)! As more of the story unfolds, Act One comes to an end with the introduction of the elusive Miss Mimi Me…

As always, we’re left in suspense at the interval and Jamie returns to school at the beginning of Act Two. Throughout the second Act, Jamie continues to find himself but the journey to self-acceptance is never easy. Jamie’s journey culminates in the Year 11 Prom but is it everything he hoped it would be?

Overall, ETAJ is a beautifully constructed production. It plays with humour, crude jokes, sarcasm and wit. All the while exploring important societal concepts such as nuclear families, social norms and battling with your inner self. I think it will only get better with the second watch so I’m off to go and pop the film on!

The show is running until the 30th March so act quickly to secure your ticket!

Standout Quote or Moment: Rebecca McKinnis’s performance of ‘He’s My Boy’.

See If: You can resist tapping your feet in time to the music!

Similar Plays: Dear Evan Hanson

Last Impression: Absolutely incredible - I am already listening to the soundtrack on repeat!

To get tickets for Everybody’s Talking About Jamie click here

We were kindly gifted these tickets in exchange for a review.

Written by Chelsea Bartlett