Press tickets for review

Seven years ago, everybody started talking about Jamie, and we still are! The buzz and the excitement of this show clearly hasn’t fizzled and if a packed Derngate is anything to go by, it’s a resounding success night after night.

It’s the musical that reminds you to believe in yourself, be kind, and to embrace and celebrate everybody for who they are. It’s the show that emits pure joy. It will build your spirits, crush your heart and then build it back up stronger.

It is a show that is simply utterly fabulous. 

Centred around Jamie (Ivano Turco), he’s a year 11 boy who wants to be a drag star. He wants to go to prom in a dress. And he wants to be accepted for who he is. Supported by his loving and wonderful mum Margaret New (Rebecca McKinnis) and supported by mum’s bestie, Ray (Sejal Keshwala). This three were an absolute power-trio on stage.

Turco is simply brilliant. Camp, funny, and real, Turco makes Jamie instantly loveable. McKinnis is the definition of a struggling mother who will sacrifice herself for her child, she is the epitome of protective factor and her singing voice was breathtaking. Her performance of He’s My Boy was stunning. Meanwhile, Keshwala is quick-tongued and brings so much of the humour, played excellently. 

Talia Palamathanan plays Jamie’s bestie, Pritti. She is a character that grows massively throughout the show. Palamathanan is an absolute joy to watch and her performance of It Means Beautiful is a stunning combination of vocals, lighting and emotive expressions. 

Kevin Clifton plays Hugo/Loco Chanelle and plays this with such ease. Clifton looks at complete ease in his roles and acts as a wonderful guide to Jamie. Though, when on stage with the other drags, he seemed to be overshadowed by the sheer brilliance of them. The Legs Eleven Girls are completed by Laika Virgin (Anthony Gyde), Sandra Bollock (Garry Lee) and Tray Sophisticay (David McNair), which oozed sass, confidence, and humour. 

Jamie’s Dad (Akshay St Clair), Dean (Jordan Ricketts), and Miss Hedge (Georgina Hagen) are all villains in their own way. Ricketts brought authenticity to a year 11 bully, and St Clair had a small yet powerful role which had the audience hating his existence (there were some audible shocks when he delivered a certain line!). Hagen was a brilliant Miss Hedge and delivers a cunning and wicked fire to Work of Art.

Kate Prince’s choreography with dancing on, around, and with desks is enthusiastic and exciting, and looks incredible against the industrial set design by Anna Fleishle. With the opening of an industrial wall, it reveals a complete and interacted with kitchen, stairs and, living room. Plus, the dressing rails and boards will arrive to change into Hugo’s shop. But most of the action takes place at school, and the kitchen. I did really enjoy and find the toilet scene hilarious!

A show that I’ll certainly be talking about for a while!

On at Royal and Derngate, Northampton until 1st June