Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Birmingham Hippodrome, 10 October, 2023. 5*****: David Gray & Paul Gray

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Birmingham Hippodrome, 10 October, 2023.

5*****: David Gray & Paul Gray

In the mere six years since this show premiered at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, we seem to have taken a few steps backwards in terms of attitudes towards trans people and, in particular, trans issues in schools. Everybody’s Talking About Jamie seems to rise above this hardening of attitudes and reaches to the heart of a broad mainstream audience.

It does this partly because it is a musical, a theatrical form where big dreams, big frocks and big hair are the norm. It also avoids many of the current culture war flash points: pronouns, transitioning – Jamie is just a boy who sometimes wants to be a girl. And finally, it places the character of Jamie in a warm and normalising context.

Yes, there are antagonists who stand in the way of his dreams, but these are presented as isolated figures rather than as part of a groundswell of hostility. Most of the characters either fully support Jamie or are ambivalent about him.

It is a show full of strong characters and one of its many joys is the way that these characters develop along with him. Jamie’s journey is central, but the story is also about how this is transformational for those around him. His Mum, played with quiet strength and dignity by Rebecaa McKinnis, manages to get over her failed marriage. Hugo the retired Drag Queen, a barnstorming turn by John Partridge, is able to rediscover his fabulousness. Jamie’s best friend, Pritti, a sensitive and subtle performance from Talia Plamathanan, learns how to manifest her inner beauty.

Even the supposed bad guys are explored in terms of what makes them opposed to Jamie. They are understood and integrated into the show’s warm and accepting world.

All of these character trajectories are skilfully woven together to create a narrative that is rich and expansive, but also tight as a drum.

A bland set, some kind of Yale Box municipal representation of a school, and this works brilliantly because it highlights the glamour when it is unleashed. The show is full of clever touches and the choreography is explosive.

At the centre of it all Ivano Turco is an electrifyingly charismatic Jamie. He really explores the character’s developments from a literally invisible first appearance, with growing confidence through to his realisation of an integrated self. It is dramatically, vocally and choreographically a very impressive performance.

The music is, on the whole, functional and serves the drama well. Indeed it is strong enough to get into your head, but not strong enough to stay there. Two exceptions are the catchy title song and the lovely ten o’clock number He’s My Boy beautifully delivered by Rebecca McKinnis. The whole cast is exceptionally strong vocally and they give huge amounts of sustained energy.

Despite its really very serious subject matter, this is very much a feel-good show, full of warmth and humour with a wonderfully uplifting climax.

Cast

Jamie New – Ivano Turco

Margaret New – Rebecca McKinnis

Ray – Shobna Gulatis

Pritti Pasha – Talia Palamathanan

Miss Hedge – Hayley Tamaddon

Hugo – John Partridge

Laika Virgin – Anthony Gyde

Sandra Bollock – Garry Lee

Tray Sophisticay – David McNair

Jamie’s Dad – Akshay St Clair

Dean – Jordan Ricketts

Joshain Angelo Omana/Liv Ashman/Rhiannon Bacchus/Geoff Berrisford/Jessica Daugirda/Finton Flynn/Annabelle Laing/Luca Moscardini/Thomas Walton/Takaiyah Bailey

Creatives

Show by – Dan Gillespie Sells & Tom MacRea

Director – Matt Ryan

Designer – Anna Fleischle

Choreographer – Kate Prince