Why frock star Jamie will be the talk of the town
IT’S CLEAR to see why everybody’s Talking about Jamie — which just happens to be the title of a new British musical (yes, that rare beast!) opening in the West end next month.
The show, written by dan gillespie sells, lead singer and guitarist of The Feeling, and television writer Tom Macrae, tells the story of Jamie new, a sheffield schoolboy (played by newcomer John McCrea) who, now and again, likes to put on a frock, and dreams of wearing a gown to the prom.
it played 19 sold-out performances at the Crucible, sheffield, earlier this year before theatre owner and producer nica Burns swooped in and booked it for the apollo, shaftesbury avenue, where previews start on november 6.
Watching the company rehearse the electrifying opening number, don’t even Know ( choreographed by Kate Prince, founder of the Zoo
nation dance troupe), it’s easy to see why sheffield was so taken by the musical. But nothing prepared me for an intimate, act two scene with McCrea and Lucie shorthouse, as Jamie’s best friend, Pritti. director Jonathan Butterell sat on the edge of a bed in one of the rehearsal rooms at the old diorama arts Centre near regent’s Park, as Pritti explained to Jamie why it was her choice to wear a hijab. Then, sells started playing his guitar — and Ms shorthouse began singing. The title of the song was it Means Beautiful, and for three-and-a-half minutes i was spellbound. sells and Macrae had never written a musical before. Macrae said they wrote and re-wrote lots of numbers, but it Means Beautiful came relatively easily. ‘i don’t think either of us thought it would be a big song. on other songs we worked so hard. But it Means Beautiful wasn’t difficult at all.’ That number, to my mind, encapsulates a lot of what the show’s about: identity, diversity, family and friendship. sells said: ‘ What we do in pop music is take a world of ideas, distil them into a tiny gem, and make it sound easy. it doesn’t work if it’s difficult to listen to.’ several members of the sheffield company, including Josie Walker, as Jamie’s mum; her best friend, Mina anwar; and Tamsin Carroll, as Jamie’s teacher; have remained with the show, although producer Burns said some new cast members are making their West end debuts.