Jamie: Drag Queen at 16 has made it to the West End and now the Silver Screen.
Inspired by Firecracker’s BBC 3 documentary, the stage production Everybody’s Talking About Jamie was picked up by London’s West End, where it continues its highly successful run.
Based on the true story of Jamie Campbell, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie follows 16-year-old Jamie New who lives on a council estate in Sheffield. Jamie doesn’t quite fit in. Jamie is terrified about the future. Jamie is going to be a sensation. Supported by his brilliant loving mum and surrounded by his friends, Jamie overcomes prejudice, beats the bullies and steps out of the darkness, into the spotlight.
Recent Academy Award nominee Richard E. Grant (Can You Ever Forgive Me?, Logan) plays former drag queen and Jamie’s mentor Hugo with BAFTA nominee Sharon Horgan (Catastrophe) as Jamie’s teacher Miss Hedge and BAFTA winner Sarah Lancashire (Happy Valley) as his mother Margaret. Shobna Gulati, from the original stage cast, will reprise her role of Ray.
After receiving over 3000 applications from the open casting call, newcomer Max Harwood was cast in the title role of Jamie New. Harwood, a 21 year old from Basingstoke is currently studying at Urdang Academy in London. This is his first professional role. Following a year’s search for Jamie’s classmates via regional casting calls and outreach, 20 young locals from Yorkshire and the surrounding regions have been cast.
Filming will begin in Sheffield at the end of June.