Everybody's Talking About Jamie Review - Congress Theatre Eastbourne

There's no doubting that your school days are supposed to be the best days of your life! It's slightly more complicated though if you are a 16 year old boy, living in Sheffield whose main ambition is to become a drag queen and turn up at the school prom in a dress rather than a tuxedo. 

Everybody's Talking About Jamie is based on a true story about a young man called Jamie Campbell. He's the inspiration behind this high energy musical that everybody’s been talking about since it took the West End by storm back in 2017.

Ivano Turco takes the lead role of Jamie New in this current tour, which is the second time that the production has toured the UK. The opening night at Eastbourne's Congress Theatre, saw his understudy Finton Flynn step into those famous red heels and what a job he done! 

Finton has recently appeared in BBC's daytime show Doctors and has played Russ Gray in ITV's long running soap Coronation Street. There's no doubt that he has a huge stage presence, along with a phenomenal singing voice and flamboyancy by the bucket load! 

This is despite sharing a stage with 2013 X Factor winner Sam Bailey, who plays school teacher Miss Hedge. The lady who does everything in her power to stop Jamie turning up at the school prom in a dress. 

The show also stars former Strictly professional dancer, Kevin Clifton, who plays mentor and legendary drag queen Loco Chanelle. 

Jamie is best friends with Pritti, the geeky school boffin who dons glasses and a hijab. She is played beautifully by Talia Palamathanan. 

There's plenty of catchy tunes, laugh out loud gags and a few swear words thrown in! It's a very slick production with a set straight out of the West End, and features a trio of hilarious drag queens that deserved their standing ovation from a very busy theatre! 

The show is on until Saturday 4 May and is a great night out that will have you leaving the theatre smiling from ear to ear!

Ivano is back in the lead role from Thursday. 

Tickets: Wed- Thu 7.30pm & Thu 2.30pm £28 - £49, Fri 7.30pm & Sat 2.30pm & 7.30pm £30 - £51, under 16s £10 off.