Now Layton signs up as a frock star

EVERYBODY will soon be talking about Layton Williams. The one-time Billy Elliot actor, who went on to star as Stephen Carmichael in BBC TV comedy Bad Education, will take over early in the New Year from John McCrea in hot British pop musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, which will soon enter its second year at the Apollo Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue.

McCrea created the role at Sheffield Theatre and transferred with it to the West End.

Jamie’s based on the true story of a 16-year-old student who wanted to wear a frock to his school prom. The show, written by Dan Gillespie Sells and Tom MacRae, has been beautifully directed by Jonathan Butterell.

Producer and theatre owner Nica Burns told me Butterell came up with the idea of casting Williams, who found early fame playing Billy Elliot at the Victoria Palace. I saw him, and he was impressive.

He then joined Matthew Bourne’s dance company, and later was sensational in a touring production of Rent (which was a thousand times better than the disappointing original West End production).

Burns said that with a mixed race Jamie it was important to have parents to match. ‘Jamie will have a white mum and a black dad, because the casting has to be believable,’ she said yesterday. ‘We’re talking about families that represent modern Britain!’

A few other cast members such as Lucie Shorthouse, Luke Baker and Courtney Bowman have gained huge followings since being in the musical. Rebecca McKinnis, who plays Jamie’s mother, will stay with the show when Williams takes over on January 29.