How MYCO managed to pull off a musical of this calibre with such sheer professionalism will be the subject of much speculation, but its joyful production of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie at Oxford Playhouse is breathtakingly good.
Made of up 55 Musical Youth Company Oxford members aged 12-18, this year MYCO has surpassed itself. READ ABOUT IT HERE despite its ambition bent.
‘What a sensational night of theatre’
Because Everybody’s Talking About Jamie was a tough nut to crack, being not only a recent and highly acclaimed musical, but having toured to Oxford’s New Theatre in December 2023 following a long West End run, already much enjoyed.
None of which deterred MYCO in the slightest, seizing the bull by the horns and not only running with it, but bringing an authenticity and professionalism to the Oxford Playhouse stage that was hard to fathom.
Jamie, as you may or may not know, is a teenager from Sheffield who wants to become a drag queen. He chooses a hard road to travel, but with the help of his mum and friends, fellow drag queens and buckets of determination, pluck, courage and an inestimable joie de vivre, he bypasses his father’s (Ollie Watkins) ingrained disapproval, bullying at school and his teachers disdain to realise his goals and wear a dress to the school prom.
In a nutshell Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is a coming-of-age story that highlights and tackles bigotry in its many forms, while offering hope and a way through.
‘Truly a night to remember, we preferred it to the original, its authenticity, talent and raw emotion shining through’
Which is all well and good, but it’s also a monster of a musical in terms of the sheer musicality, choreography and sets. Throw in a vast, amateur, young cast, a less than West End budget, and rehearsal time constraints and you might think it was a rather big ask. But MYCO absolutely killed it.
What a sensational night of theatre we enjoyed, the audience holding back tears, all rising from our seats at the end to give a standing ovation that I’m sure will be echoed at Oxford Playhouse all week.
‘Tom MacRae’s script quite rightly doesn’t hold back on the reality or the language of the playground and common room’
Why was it so good? Partly because of its authenticity. It was so prevalent. Here were school children acting their own ages, discussing and experiencing issues actually relevant to them; from peer pressure and sexuality and problems at home, to the uncertainty of their futures, flirting and banter.
Tom MacRae‘s script quite rightly doesn’t hold back either on the reality, or the language, of the playground and common room, or the adults around them. “People are fuckers, and teenagers are fucking fuckers,” Hugo observes, as parents nodded in gleeful agreement in the audience.
The big dance numbers were tackled with huge gusto, professional choreographer Catie Simpson making a huge impact on their sheer dynamism, the cast perfectly in sync with each other, as the swell of voices filled the theatre.
But it was the leads who really made this a night to remember. How schoolchildren could shine with such gravitas and skill was dumbfounding, but shine they did.
Caleb Gill as Jamie was an absolute gift, strutting his stuff in his huge red high heels, his voice soaring with cheekiness and pathos when called for, investing us fully in his troubled character as he navigates adolescence, the terrors of the school gates and his troubled home life.
His mother Margaret, played by Oxford High’s Hannah Peel, was quite literally a revelation. The depth and nuances of her voice impossible to fathom as she took on the huge solos, Northern accent and maternal worries with a maturity and skillset totally at odds with her age.
‘You’d never, in a million years, guess hannah peel was in Year 13, the heartfelt round of applause after ‘He’s My Boy’ rightly deserved’
You’d never, in a million years, guess she was in Year 13, the heartfelt round of applause after ‘He’s My Boy’ rightly deserved.
Jamie’s best friend Pritti (Chanice Whealy) had the stage presence and stoic solidity required for the role alongside a terrific pair of lungs, while (Hetty Hughes), encapsulated bossy teacher Miss Hedge’s posturing and simmering prejudice perfectly.
‘hats off to MYCO and its incredible performers because this was certainly a night to remember. Fun, heartfelt and ballsy, it was pure joy’
The joy brought by the drag queens however was heroic. Hugely professional, Laika Virgin (Ben Gwilym), Tray Sophisticay (Noah Smith) and Sandra Bullock (Henry Drake) carried out the roles with aplomb, humour and dignity, director Guy Brigg having brought in professional drag queens to give them a few tips.
And Giacomo Ruffman‘s portrayal of Loco Chanel defied belief, his daytime persona Hugo outstanding. You’d never know Giacomo was doing his A Levels, his grown up presence and attitude entirely believable.
So yes, the leads were spectacular, and accompanied by a brilliant live band, high end cast, and all out costumes, MYCO’s Everybody’s Talking About Jamie pulled out all the stops.
Truly a night to remember, we preferred it to the original, its authenticity, talent and raw emotion shining through. So hats off to MYCO and its incredible performers because this was certainly a night to remember. Fun, heartfelt and ballsy, it was pure joy.
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is at Oxford Playhouse until Saturday April 12. Book here https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/everybodys-talking-about-jamie
