As far as Oxford goes, thanks to MYCO, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. Yes the famous musical is being brought to the Oxford Playhouse stage and excitement around the production is already mounting.
If you didn’t see Everybody’s Talking About Jamie in the West End or on tour, now’s your chance, because MYCO is going in all guns blazing to make sure it’s a night you won’t forget.
For those who haven’t see it, Jamie New is 16 years old and lives on a council estate in Sheffield. He wants to be a drag queen and go to the school prom in a dress, but others disagree including the establishment and some of his fellow pupils.
Based on the true story of Jamie Campbell, despite the odds and supported by his mum and friends, Jamie overcomes prejudice, beats the bullies and steps out of the darkness into the spotlight in an all-singing, all dancing extravaganza of a show.
Throw in a cast of 50, an incredible score, fantastic choreography and some wonderful costumes, Oxford is in for a treat and MYCO director Guy Brigg cannot wait to bring it onto the Oxford Playhouse stage in all its glory.
“It’s got it all really; so much to get your teeth into. It’s nice to do something with so much strong meat and such raw emotion. Because this musical is so honest and believable – a story everyone can engage with. It’s serendipitous really that it came along at the right time,” Guy says.
“But the other really lovely thing is that most of the youth company play people their own age, and so often in our productions they are in period costumes or playing characters who are much older, so it makes it much more relevant to them.
“Which means we have all fallen in love with this show. We are so invested in it and want everyone to love Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’ as much as we do, so there is a really fantastic vibe in rehearsals.
“Plus the show is brilliantly written by Tom MacRae so it never feels patronising. That’s the genius of it, and it’s the same with the lyrics. Nothing is twee, so it’s really captivating, engaging and really fun,” Guy adds.
But how do you bring a West End production to the Oxford stage? “There are 50 cast members in the production which immediately gives it a unique quality for the ensemble numbers. So we’ve brought in choreographer Catie Simpson, who has a wealth of experience, and we have really gone to town with the costumes and make-up, from the school uniforms to the drag queens, because if you’re going to do drag, do it properly.”
Yes, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie stars four drag queens, something that took the MYCO ensemble a while to get their heads around. “The company has been really excited about the show from day one, and wanted to do the drag queens justice. So we’ve had some professional drag queens in to give workshops and explain the art form of drag, and one of our biggest costs has been the drag queen wigs!” Guy laughs.
And with rehearsals ramping up, ready for the run from April 9-12, Guy has full confidence in his cast: “Caleb Gill, who plays Jamie, is absolutely astounding. What he is able to do in six inch heels is nothing short of miraculous, plus he’s a brilliant dancer, great singer and terrific actor.
“And then there’s Hannah Peel who plays his mother, who has had us in tears in the rehearsal room, because she manages to portray such a moving character with so much pathos.
“I’m looking forward to the show. It’s really about trying to put our mark on it in a different way, which makes it fun and challenging at the same time.”
And what of the audience, how does Guy think it will go down in Oxford? “Lots of people know the show, so that brings in its own audience, as does the appeal of MYCO, but we still think Everybody’s Talking About Jamie will be a bit of a surprise, because it has so much heart and warmth, and there is a real honesty about it,” Guy says.
“But it’s also about the different ways people explore gender and what it means. We want Everybody’s Talking About Jamie to make the audience ask lots of questions, because I also work in equality and diversity in schools and with young people tackling bi, trans and homophobic bullying, so there is something very special about being able to bring that on board here right at the heart of the show. It’s what I believe in and what I do.”
“Apart from that it’s going to be an absolute scorcher for MYCO, so come along, even if you’ve seen the musical or BBC documentary before, because we are putting our own special spin on it.”
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is at Oxford Playhouse from Wednesday April 9 – Sat April 12. Book at https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/everybodys-talking-about-jamie
