Having just seen Pick Me Up Theatre’s fabulously flamboyant latest production, I can quite see why Everybody’s Talking About Jamie!

Based on a true story, we follow 16-year-old Jamie New’s journey of self-discovery. He desperately wants to be a sensational drag queen, dreaming of stepping out of

the darkness of his reality into the spotlight of fame and adoration.

This seemed like an impossible dream as the musical opened with Jamie’s Year 11 class vying for attention, with their class teacher, Miss Hedge, played by Alexandra Mather (who was spot on in the role), trying desperately to establish order and focus on what she saw as realistic career options for her charges—any dream bubbles were promptly burst.

Harvey Stevens, playing the title role of Jamie, commanded the space as the bored, inattentive teenager; confidence oozed from every pore, as did Harvey’s star quality right from that first scene.

Dan Gillespie Sells’ catchy tunes, with lyrics by Tom Macrae, along with moving ballads, were sung with such passion—one minute your toes were tapping, and the next your emotions were wrung inside out.

You always know you’re guaranteed quality when you see a Pick Me Up Theatre production, but director Robert Readman, assisted by Andrew Isherwood, has raised the already high bar even further. This show was West End standard, with an amazing cast, a superb live band led by musical director Adam Tomlinson, and stunning choreography by Ilana Weets.

Harvey was an absolute natural for the role of Jamie (ballet dancing training from an early age had obviously stood him in good stead, and I was in awe as to his ease of movement in those uber-high-heeled, rich red shoes!). From his cock-sure comeback comments to bully Dean (Fergus Green) and bright banter with his peers hiding his true feelings to his heartbreaking vulnerability as he sang “Ugly” in response to his father’s cruel words, he held our hearts in the palm of his hand, and we were willing him on to realise his dream.

He had wonderful support from his mother, Margaret, who desperately wanted to shield her beloved son from learning the truth about his stay-away father (played with great conviction by Andrew Isherwood). Gemma McDonald was superb in the role, coming into her own in her passionate rendition of her ballad, He’s My Boy which earned her well-deserved, lasting applause. Ruby Salter shone in her role as Pritti, a true friend to Jamie; I just loved her showdown with Dean—go, girl!

Lotty Farmer lit up the stage whenever she appeared in her role as Ray, Margaret’s best friend, demonstrating great comic timing and proving to be a Ray of sunshine—a real friend in need to both her best friend and to Jamie.

Zander Fick was outstanding in his larger-than-life portrayal of Hugo/Loco Channelle, but I have to admit that my breath was taken away seeing Mark Simmonds in the role of Laika Virgin and Andrew Isherwood as Tray Sophisticay.

Tres bien, chaps— I take my hat off (or should I say wig?) to you both for your versatility, having seen you both in very different roles over the years! Ryan Richardson, playing Sandra Bullock, was the fourth

number of these bold, brassy broads who all gave mesmerising performances.

The energetic finale, Out of The Darkness (A Place Where We Belong) was a fabulous end to this feel-good, thought-provoking show. Bravo all!

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