Unable to start

LAYTON WILLIAMS (Jamie New). Layton was born in Bury, Manchester and he began his career at the age of 12 playing the title role of Billy in the West End production of Billy Elliot. He made his debut TV appearance as Kylie in the BBC comedy Beautiful People. He went on to train at Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts which was documented on CBBC’s School for Stars. Layton is so excited to be returning to the title role of Jamie (in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie). During lockdown, Layton shot Murder They Hope for Gold (UKTV) and will appear alongside Greg Davies’ new BBC One comedy The Cleaner starring Helena Bonham-Carter and David Mitchell. Theatre credits include: Connor in Hushabye Mountain (Hope Mill); Jamie in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (West End and UK tour); Paul in Kiss Me Kate (Crucible); Seaweed in Hairspray! (UK tour); Angel in RENT (London/UK Tour). For Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures The Car Man and The Lord of the Flies (London/UK tour); Young Michael in Thriller Live! (West End). TV/Film credits include: Dancing in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Amazon), Rocketman (Paramount). Larry in Benidorm (ITV); Russell in Postcode (CBBC). Layton played series regular Stephen in the BBC Comedy Bad Education and reprised his role in the Bad Education feature film. Layton is the director of Pros from the Shows which provides high quality workshop experiences for young performers. @laytonwilliams @prosfromtheshows.

BIANCA DEL RIO/ROY HAYLOCK (Loco Chanelle/Hugo). Bianca Del Rio, otherwise known as Roy Haylock, is a dimple-cheeked, larger-than-life drag queen and outrageous comic who isn’t afraid to shock and offend. When it comes to insult comics, Bianca is in a class by herself. Fierce, funny, and fabulous, she has sandblasted her name in the annals of pop culture on RuPaul’s Drag Race. Thanks to her snarky frankness, impeccable timing, and politically incorrect humor, she became the show’s breakout star, winning its sixth season. Dubbed the “Joan Rivers of the Drag World” (The New York Times), there isn’t anything Bianca is afraid to say. A self-professed “clown in a gown,” Bianca is quick to point out that she is the biggest joke of all. Bianca’s brand continues to expand with her recently launched makeup remover, The Bianca Remover, which is currently Amazon’s top selling beauty product. Among her many accomplishments, Bianca starred in the feature film Hurricane Bianca (2016) (available on Hulu), its sequel Hurricane Bianca 2: From Russia with Hate (2018) (available on Netflix), the Vimeo original comedy special Rolodex of Hate, and the Logo original television specials Not Today Bianca. Bianca has also taken her trademark wit and sharp commentary to the page in her book Blame It On Bianca Del Rio: The Expert on Nothing with an Opinion on Everything (Harper Collins 2018). Bianca made history in 2019 by being the first drag queen to headline Carnegie Hall and Wembley Arena, selling out both venues, with her stand-up comedy show It’s Jester Joke. She recently kicked off her fifth global stand-up comedy tour, Unsanitized, but is taking a brief break from her tour to return to the hit musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie in the role of Hugo/Loco Chanelle on its tour of the UK and Los Angeles. For all things Bianca, visit her website TheBiancaDelRio.com.

MELISSA JACQUES (Margaret New). Training: The Constance Grant Dance Centre, Sheffield and London School of Musical Theatre. Theatre includes: Margaret New in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Apollo – West End); Trish in Kinky Boots (Adelphi Theatre) Wicked, Midwife, Madame Morrible cover (Victoria Palace); Original cast member of Mamma Mia! (London), alternate Donna and understudying all of The Dynamos; My Fair Lady (Esplanade Theatre, Singapore); Chess (Spektrum Arena, Oslo); Company, Into the Woods (Derby Playhouse); The Full Monty (UK tour); Spend, Spend, Spend (West Yorkshire Playhouse and UK tour); A Slice of Saturday Night, Oliver, Beauty and the Beast (Theatre Royal, Lincoln); Little Shop of Horrors (Millfield Theatre); Me and My Girl, Crazy for You (Aberystwyth); Workshops include: We Will Rock You, Desperately Seeking Susan, Blag, and Paris Thunder. Melissa was one-sixth of the close vocal harmony group The Unconventionals who released their album Flower to the People.

SHOBNA GULATI (Ray) became a household name for her role as Anita in Victoria Wood’s dinnerladies, as Sunita in Coronation Street and Najia in Doctor Who. Shobna was recently seen as Ray in the film adaptation of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. Her theatre credits include, amongst others, Going the Distance (Lawrence Batley/Oxford Playhouse and online) Cinderella (Lyric Hammersmith), Richard II (The Globe), Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (The Apollo Theatre and UK tour) and Daisy Pulls It Off (The Park). Further television credits include Hullraisers (Ch4), Selma in My Name is Leon (BBC), Midsomer Murders (ITV), Murder They Hope (for Gold UKTV), Doctors (BBC), Casualty (BBC), Eastenders (BBC), and Paranoid (ITV1/Red/Netflix), amongst others. Shobna has also written and directed the critically acclaimed comedy show for young women, The Masala Girls. Her memoir, Remember Me? Discovering my mother as she lost her memory, which was published by Octopus Books is out now.

GILLIAN FORD (Miss Hedge). Originally from Stirling in Scotland, Gillian trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London. West End Theatre: Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (The Apollo) and The Sound of Music (The Palladium). Regional Theatre: Mamma Mia! (UK Tour); Cinderella (The Kings, Glasgow); It’s a Wonderful Life, Whisky Galore, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, What Every Woman Knows and A Servant o’ Twa Maisters (Pitlochry Festival Theatre); Hay Fever (UK tour); The Marriage-go-Round (The Lyceum, Crewe); Songs for a New World (Judi Dench Theatre, London) and Jack and the Beanstalk (The Kings, Edinburgh). Workshops: What’s New Pussycat? (Ambassador Theatre Group) and The Walpole Orange (Regents Park Open Air Theatre), Film/Television: Yo! Diary! (BBC 1, The Comedy Unit) and The Honeymoon (FilmFour).

GEORGE SAMPSON (Dean Paxton). George found his passion for performing on the streets of Manchester, Market Street, at the age of 12, where he would busk three times a week and where he was spotted as an exceptional talent and encouraged to audition for Britain’s Got Talent. At the age of 14, he rose to fame after winning the popular ITV talent show with his interpretation of Singin’ in the Rain. Following the success of the show, he went on to star in the West End in Into the Hoods and two national arena tours. George also starred as Eddie in the feature films StreetDance 3D and StreetDance 2, where he found his love for acting. He then went on to shoot three series of the BBC drama Waterloo Road, playing bad boy Kyle Stack, in which one series won a National Television Award for Best Drama. Having found a desire for screen work, George began working on Mount Pleasant, playing the role of Gary, and also appeared on Emmerdale, as troublemaker Ryan. In 2016, he starred on Britain’s Got Talent’s 10-year anniversary show and performed alongside Diversity. George played the main character Daniel in the short film Daniel Thomas, produced by East Heads Films in 2017. Throughout his career, George has featured on television, film, and numerous pantomimes and Easter theatre tours. After making his musical theatre debut in Our House, which combined his love for both acting and performing arts. He had such a successful run with his first Qdos Entertainment pantomime at Lyceum Theatre, Crewe, in 2018; he returned the following year for Qdos Entertainment to the Hippodrome, Darlington, to play Jack in Jack and the Beanstalk. In 2019, George appeared on Britain’s Got Talent: the Champions.

HIBA ELCHIKHE (Pritti Pasha). Training: Mountview Theatre Arts and The Brit School. Credits include: Brooklyn in Brooklyn The Musical (Greenwich Theatre), Fiver (Southwark Playhouse), Antony & Cleopatra (National Theatre), Princess Jasmine in Aladdin (Australia), Mrs Santiago/Understudy Molly in Ghost the Musical (Asia), The Sound Of Music: Live (ITV), featured soloist in Friday Night is Music Night for BBC Radio 2 and Bend it Like Beckham (workshop). Original albums: Broken wings, Fiver, In the willows. @hiba_elchikhe.

DAVID O'REILLY (Laika Virgin). TV: Steve in Better Things (FX), Finn Pendle in Doctors (BBC), Bean in Benidorm (ITV) Chobado in Furiki Wheels (Disney XD), Boogie in Tiki Tam Tam (Pilot), Nigel Nit Boy in Worlds Worst Children (Teaser), Ronan in Round Ireland with a Fridge (Fridge D’or). Theatre: Shem in Children of Eden (Cadogan Hall), Franics Henshall in One Man, Two Guvnors (Derby Theatre), Jamie in Catherine Tate Live (West End, Australian and New Zealand Tour), Cecil Graham in Lady Windermere’s Fan (Vaudeville Theatre), Standby Elder Cunningham in The Book Of Mormon (Prince Of Wales), Roger in Grease (West End and UK Tour), Reggie in Bluebirds (Above The Stag).

LEON CRAIG (Sandra Bollock). Training: Guildford School of Acting. Theatre credits include: Babkak and cover Genie in Disney’s West End Aladdin (Prince Edward Theatre, London); Audrey II Voice of the plant in Little Shop Of Horrors (Salisbury Playhouse and Mercury Theatre Colchester); Queen Of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland (UK tour); King Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar (World Arena tour); Rodney in My Big Gay Italian Wedding (Greenwich Theatre, London); Melvin P Thorpe in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Union Theatre, London); Lead singer in Soul Sunday The Songs Of Michael Jackson (Warwick Castle); Company in Myths & Hymns (Finborough Theatre, London); Sid/Inventor in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (UK tour); Montel/Jesus in Jerry Springer The Opera (Cambridge Theatre, London); Chuck Brown in Over the Rainbow (UK tour); Company in On the Shelf (Edinburgh Festival); Man 1 in Exit Allan (Sherman Theatre, Cardiff). TV credits include: Presenter/Host Goldwell Colour Zoom Hair (Vienna); Jerry Springer The Opera (BBC 2); Footballer/Cream guy in Paddy Power World Cup (ITV); Nintendo Wii (UK). Film credits include: Jerry Springer The Opera (Avalon); Jesus Christ Superstar World Arena Tour (Universal & Really Useful Group). Leon has appeared in over 14 Pantomimes over the Country as Dame. Twitter: Leoncraig1. Instagram: leoncraigofficial.

JAMES GILLAN  (Tray Sophisticay). Theatre Credits: Tray Sophisticay in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Apollo Shaftesbury Avenue and Sheffield Crucible) Lady Puck in The Donkey Show (Camden Proud Galleries), Mr Tumnas in The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (The Rose theatre Kingston), Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors (Aberystwyth Arts Theatre), Colin in The Secret Garden (Birmingham Rep and West Yorkshire Playhouse), Peter in Peter Pan (West Yorkshire Playhouse and the Royal Festival Hall), Original Boq in Wicked (Apollo Victoria Theatre), John Hinckley in Assassins (Sheffield Crucible theatre), Rusty in Starlight Express (Apollo Victoria Theatre and 1st national tour), Marilyn in Taboo (National tour), Nick in Fame (Arena tour of Sweden) James in Godspell (Chichester Festival Theatre), Iras in Antony and Cleopatra and Lucius in Julius Caesar (Shakespeare’s Globe theatre), Pippin in Pippin (The Bridewell Theatre), Tommy at the Shaftesbury theatre (Oliver Award nomination for best supporting performance in a musical), Benjamin in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (National tour) and James in James and the Giant Peach (National tour). TV Credits: Doctors (BBC), ‘Orrible (BBC), Casualty (BBC), The Seven Industrial Wonders of the World (BBC), The Inbetweeners (Channel 4), The C Word (BBC), A Tale of Two Cities (CBS) and most recently Suspects the improvised cop drama for Channel 5. Recordings: Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (original West End cast recording), Peter Pan, Easy Virtue (soundtrack), A Tale of Two Cities (international cast recording).

CAMERON JOHNSON (Jamie’s Dad/Resident Director). Cameron trained at LAMDA. Professional credits include: D.S. Brocklebank in Kiss of Death (Tabs Productions, Nottingham Theatre Royal), Moose and Cheeks in Sam Snape & The Curse of The Chillesford Chough (Eastern Angles), Mr Myers in Fame The Musical (UK tour), Widow Twankey in Aladdin (Pete Rowe Rock & Roll Pantomime), Morocco in Europe, Mike Connor in High Society and Bruce in People (all at Pitlochry Festival Theatre), Big Moe in Five Guys Named Moe (Underbelly Festival Square Edinburgh), Big Jule in Guys & Dolls (UK tour and Phoenix Theatre), Memphis in The Life (English Theatre Frankfurt), Marvin in I Will Be Everything (New International Encounter), Nugget in Equus (Pomegranate Theatre), Jacob Marley in A Christmas Carol, and The Narrator in The Boxed Romeo & Juliet (both for BoxClever Theatre), and Mrs. Rochester in The Brontës of Dunwich Heath...and Clif (Eastern Angles). He is originally from Toronto but has lived in and around London for most of his life. As a result, he lost the Canadian twang long ago and now feels like a bit of a fraud.

RICHARD APPIAH-SARPONG (Cy) trained at the Urdang Academy, where he graduated with a first-class BA (hons) in 2019. Theatre credits include: Pepe/understudy Chino in West Side Story (Leicester Curve Theatre); Donny in The Wedding Singer (Daegu Opera House) and Back to the Future (workshop).

ZION BATTLES (Levi). Training: The Brit School Of Performing Arts. Theatre Includes: Groove On Down  The Road (Zoonation). Danced for: Steff London and Skepta. Film: PAN, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (2020). Music: Cosigned artist by Little Mix, Stormzy, Wiley, Chipmunk, Wretch 32. Performed at: Wireless Festival 2018 & 2019, Mutiny Festival 2018.

KAZMIN BORRER (Vicki). Training: Arts Educational Schools London - awarded the Cone Ripman Prize for Musical Theatre in 2015. Film and television includes: Blythe in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Warp Films); Stella (Fifth Colony) in How to Talk to Girls at Parties (See-Saw Films); Rebecca in Honey (Floodwater Films); Cari in Baggage (Bertil Nilsson); Lauren in What I Learnt (Marmalade Film and Media); dancer in Michael McIntyre’s Very Christmassy Christmas Show (BBC) and Red in Little Red Hoodie (Imagine Pictures and Hopscotch Films). Theatre includes: dancer in Salome (London Coliseum/English National Opera); guest performer at MOVE IT and Capezio Championships final; Maria in The Last Days of Jack Sparks (OFF Book’s Urban Fright, Waterstones, Piccadilly, London) and Khadija in Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens (Insideout Theatre Productions Ltd/the Tron Theatre, Glasgow).

RYAN HUGHES (Mickey). Training: ZooNation Dance Company. Credits include: swing for various ZooNation productions: Groove on Down the Road, Into the Hoods: Remixed and The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party; original West End cast member of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie as Mickey.

JODIE KNIGHT (Fatimah). Training: Midlands Academy of Dance and Drama (MADD College). Credits whilst training: Danielle in Bring It On and French Guard/ensemble in Spamalot. Jodie also held the position of ‘College Dance Captain’ throughout her training. Other credits include: MOVE IT – dance exhibition both 2018 and 2019 at the Excel Centre, London. Jodie is thrilled to be resuming her role as Fatimah in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie which marks her professional stage debut and she dedicates her performances to her Mum, without whom she wouldn’t be where she is today. Instagram: @_jodieknight_.

HARRIET PAYNE (Bex). Training: Italia Conti. Credits include: Bex and 1st Cover/Played Miss Hedge in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Apollo Theatre - West End), Bex in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Sheffield Crucible and Workshops), Fern in Charlotte’s Web (Gordon Craig Theatre), Snow White (Southport Theatre and Grimsby Auditorium), Princess Aurora in Sleeping Beauty (Millfield Arts Centre, London), The Little Mermaid (Dugdale Centre, London), Beauty in Beauty and the Beast (The Victoria Theatre, Halifax), Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz (Tour), Wendla in Spring Awakening (The Bull Theatre, Barnet). Harriet is also one third and co-founder of the 1920s vocal trio The Wild Tonics. www.thewildtonics.com

TALIA PALAMATHANAN (Becca). Training: The BRIT School. Talia also trained part-time at the Laura Bruce Dance Academy and Flawless Dance School. Theatre includes: Anne Margaret in Teenage Dick (Donmar Warehouse - 2021), West End Musical Celebration (Palace Theatre), Hortensia in Matilda the Musical (Cambridge Theatre). Film includes: Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. TV includes: Pav in Hank Zipzer (CBBC), Children in Need 2013 performing with the cast of Matilda the Musical (BBC). Other work includes: Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2019 with Cush Jumbo & Drew McOnie, Michael Bublé and Idina Menzel’s “Baby it’s Cold Outside” music video. 

ADAM TAYLOR (Sayid/Understudy Jamie) completed his training at Bird College of Dance, Music and Theatre. Adam’s credits include: swing/covered and played Jamie New in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Apollo Theatre, West End); Little Pig/covered and played Donkey in Shrek (UK tour); ensemble in Ishq - a new musical (Sadler’s Wells Theatre); ensemble/cover Sheriff in Robin Hood (Mayflower Theatre/Qdos Entertainment); ensemble/covered and played Pepper in Mamma Mia! and dancer/aerialist in Blue Planet (Royal Caribbean International) and dancer for Jermaine Jackman’s How Will I Know (Gas & Electric). Adam has also been seen as part of Tesco’s “Love Food” campaign and featured in a TUI Holidays commercial.

RACHEL SEIRIAN (Swing). Training: Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts. Theatre includes: Fatimah/Understudy Pritti/Swing in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Apollo Theatre). Concerts Include: Godspell 50th Anniversary Online Concert (Hope Mill Theatre). TV includes: Guest Dancer on Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes 2 & ITV This Morning. Other credits include: Brother Leo music video “Push Up.”

SIMEON BECKETT (Swing/Dance Captain). Training: the Urdang Academy. Theatre credits include: dance captain in Motown the Musical (UK tour); understudy Andy/Joe in Flashdance - the Musical (UK and international tour) and dance captain in Sleeping Beauty (Qdos Entertainment). Television credits include: The 2018 BRIT Awards for Stormzy (ITV); Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway (ITV); Backchat (BBC One); The X Factor for Rita Ora (ITV) and The BRIT Awards for Kanye West (ITV). Other credits include: various music videos, including “Think About It” by Naughty Boy featuring Wiz Khalifa and Ella Eyre; and numerous modelling jobs for Reebok, Adidas, Les Mills, Bank Fashion and JD Sports.

EMMA ROBOTHAM-HUNT (Swing/Assistant Dance Captain). Training: the Urdang Academy, Birmingham Ormiston Academy. Theatre credits include: swing/assistant dance captain in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (UK tour); swing in Matilda The Musical (Cambridge Theatre, London); ensemble/assistant dance captain in Motown the Musical (UK and Ireland tour). Workshops: Amanda Thripp in Matilda (international tour); dancer in Matilda The Musical film. Television credits: BBC Music Awards - extra/ dancer for Zara Larsson. Recordings: singer in the “Eurovision Song Contest” opening soundtrack.

MAGGIE SWING (US Production Stage Manager). Center Theatre Group: Various Streaming productions, The Last Ship, Dana H., For The Love Of, Native Son, Linda Vista, Quack, Bloodletting, Ameryka, Die Mommie Die!, Elliot A Soldier’s Fugue, Spamilton, Big Night, King of the Yees, Failure: A Love Story, Dry Land, Vicuña, Throw Me on the Burnpile and Light Me Up. Geffen Playhouse: Big Sky, Barcelona, Guards at the Taj, Discord, The Country House, American Buffalo. Boston Court: Collective Rage. European tour: The Apple Family Plays. Off-Broadway: Regular Singing, Sorry, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Sweet and Sad, Knickerbocker, Compulsion, That Hopey Changey Thing (The Public Theater), Slowgirl (Lincoln Center), Blood Knot, The Orphans’ Home Cycle (Signature Theatre Company).

CREATIVES

DAN GILLESPIE SELLS (Music and Orchestration). Dan is best known for being the lead vocalist and principal songwriter in The Feeling. Their debut album, Twelve Stops and Home sold over a million copies, whilst their second album, Join With Us reached the number one spot in the UK charts. The band’s fifth album was released in March 2016. He has written songs for a variety of projects ranging from television (theme to Beautiful People/BBC) to ballet (3 with D/Coliseum, London/Stuttgart Ballet/Joyce Theatre NYC). Dan was the recipient of the 2015 Stonewall Award for Entertainer of the Decade for his work in the LGBT community and the 2007 Ivor Novello Award for Songwriter of the Year. Other awards include Best Composer at The Stage Debut Awards 2017 plus many nominations including Olivier and BRIT. His debut award-winning musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie opened at the West End’s Apollo Theatre in November 2018 where it ran for over 1,000 performances. The movie version was released globally on Amazon Prime in 2021. The Feeling’s sixth album is currently being written and is planned for release in 2022. 

JONATHAN BUTTERELL (Director and Co-Writer). Jonathan Butterell is a director and choreographer who has worked in London, New York and around the world. Most recently he directed the movie Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, released globally on Amazon Prime in 2021. Prior to that, he spent time developing and directing the award-winning stage musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. Further theatre director credits include: Alone Together, Michael Ball’s one man show (Donmar Warehouse and Theatre Royal Haymarket); Floyd Collins (Wilton’s Music Hall); Peter Pan (Royal Festival Hall); How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Royal Festival Hall); Second Chance (Signature Theatre, Arlington and New York Public Theater); Whida Peru: Ressurection Tangle (New York, Inner Voice for Premier Stages); Tres Niñas (Zipper Theatre, New York); as well as an associate director on Othello (Royal National Theatre, directed by Sam Mendes) and Hamlet (Royal Shakespeare Company, directed by Stephen Pimlott). Butterell created the musical staging for the Tony award-winning shows The Light in the Piazza (Lincoln Center Theater, directed by Barlett Sher) and Assassins (Studio 54 Broadway, directed by Joe Mantello), as well as the revival of Fiddler on the Roof (Minskoff Theatre, Broadway, directed by David Leveaux) and the musical staging for the original workshop of Sondheim’s musical Wise Guys with Nathan Lane and Victor Garber at New York Theatre Workshop, directed by Sam Mendes. Butterell also choreographed the Tony Award-winning Nine, starring Antonio Banderas and Chita Rivera on Broadway (and further productions in London, Buenos Aires, and Tokyo, all directed by David Leveaux). Further choreographer credits include: A Man of No Importance (Mitzi Newhouse, Lincoln Center Theater, directed by Joe Mantello); Company (Donmar Warehouse, directed by Sam Mendes, West End transfer); Habeas Corpus (Donmar Warehouse, directed by Sam Mendes). 

TOM MACRAE (Book and Lyrics) is a BAFTA and Olivier award nominated screenwriter, playwright, lyricist, producer, and author. Born in Northampton, Tom relocated to Los Angeles in 2017 to work as a writer and producer on the US TV show The Librarians. On British television he is the creator, writer, and producer of the Comedy Central sit-com Threesome, as well as contributing to Doctor Who and some other TV shows that you’ve never heard of. Tom adapted his stage play and lyrics for Everybody’s Talking About Jamie into the Amazon Prime movie version released in 2021, reuniting with Dan and Jonathan to bring Jamie’s story to the big screen, and writing a few new songs in the process. Tom is now working on a variety of exciting secret projects for stage, screen, and television which he wishes he could talk about. Tom’s first book, The Opposite won the Parent’s Choice Award in the US, and is probably still available on Amazon. He lives in Los Angeles with two cats and one husband. 

ANNA FLEISCHLE (Designer) is a multi-award-winning set and costume designer, working internationally in theatre, opera, and dance. Awards: Olivier Award for ‘Best Set Design’; Critics’ Circle Award for ‘Best Designer’; Evening Standard Award for ‘Best Design’; Olivier Award, Outstanding Achievement in Opera, (ETO: King Priam, Paul Bunyan); Australian Helpmann Award for Best Ballet or Dance Work and Tanz Award for Production of the Year (DV8 Physical Theatre: Can We Talk About This?). What’s On Stage Best Opera Production (ETO, Don Giovanni). Anna is also listed in this year’s The Stage list of 100 most influential people in theatre. Theatre includes: 2:22 A Ghost Story (Noël Coward Theatre); Geheimnis Einer Unbekannten (Theater in der Josefstadt, Vienna); A Kind of People, The Kid Stays in the Picture (Complicité), Hangmen (West End/Broadway, 2016 Olivier Award winner for Best Set Design) and Liberian Girl (Royal Court); Death of a Salesman (Young Vic/West End); Hedda Tesman (Chichester Festival); Two Ladies, A German Life, A Very Very Very Dark Matter (Bridge); Home I’m Darling (2019 Olivier Award nominee for Best Set Design and Best Costume Design. Theatr Clwyd/National/West End.); The Writer, Before the Party (Almeida); The Way of the World (Donmar); Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Crucible; Sheffield; West End; UK tour; Korea); Much Ado About Nothing, Troilus and Cressida (Globe); Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (Old Vic); Beware of Pity (Schaubühne, Berlin/Complicité); Tiger Bay (Wales Millennium Centre/Cape Town Opera); Terror (Lyric, Hammersmith); Don Juan in Soho (West End); RENT 20th anniversary production (St James/ Theatr Clwyd/UK tour); The Exorcist (Birmingham Rep/West End/UK tour); The Two Noble Kinsmen, Cymbeline, Love’s Sacrifice (RSC); Henry V (Regent’s Park Open Air); Before I Leave (National Theatre Wales); The End of Longing (West End); John (National/DV8/international tour); West Side Story, Blindsided, Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, Rat’s Tales (Royal Exchange, Manchester); Can We Talk About This? (National/DV8/international tour/Sydney Opera House); Love the Sinner (National); As You Like It (Curve, Leicester); You Can See the Hills, Love and Money (2007 Olivier Award nominee for Outstanding Achievement in Affiliate Theatre. Royal Exchange, Manchester/Young Vic). Opera includes: Weimar Nightfall: Seven Deadly Sins (LA Philharmonic); Don Giovanni, Iphigenie en Tauride, Paul Bunyan, King Priam (English Touring Opera); Candide (Opéra National de Lorraine); Zaide (Sadler’s Wells/Classical Opera Company/UK tour). Dance includes: Message in a Bottle (Sadler’s Wells); Second Coming (Scottish Dance Theatre); John, Can We Talk About This? (National/DV8/international tour/Sydney Opera House). Screen includes: Monologue Hub, Soliloquy (Underexposed Arts). Installations include: The Unforgotten (Young Vic). Fellowships include: founding member of Scene/Change (2020 – present); associate artist, Young Vic (2020 – present); board member, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre (2019 - present); ambassador for PiPA (2019 – present). Awards include: Olivier Award for Best Set Design (2016), Critics’ Circle Best Designer Award (2015) and Evening Standard Award for Best Design (2015) (Hangmen); Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Opera (2014) (King Priam and Paul Bunyan). Exchange, (Manchester); Love and Money and Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (Royal Exchange, Manchester); Othello (Sheffield); The Trial of Ubu (Hampstead); Wastwater (Royal Court) and Crow, with Handspring (Greenwich+Docklands International Festival). 

PAUL GROOTHUIS (Sound Designer). Credits include: Anything Goes (NT and Drury Lane); My Fair Lady (NT and Drury Lane/UK and US tour); Hamlet (1987); Candide; Oklahoma! (NT, Lyceum and Gershwin, New York); Oh What a Lovely War, A Little Night Music, Lady in the Dark, Sunday in the Park With George and Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street (NT); The King and I (London Palladium and UK tour); Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker!, Dorian Gray, The Car Man, Edward Scissorhands, Highland Fling, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, The Red Shoes, and Carousel (NT, West End and Tokyo); Oliver! (Palladium, Drury Lane and UK tour); Mary Poppins (UK, Holland, US tour, Vienna, Stuttgart and Hamburg); A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum; Marguerite (West End and Tokyo); Acorn Antiques - the Musical!; Kiss Me, Kate; Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Chichester and West End, 2012); The Pajama Game (Chichester and West End); Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (West End and UK tour); Guys and Dolls, Gypsy, Damsels in Distress and Mack and Mabel (all in Chichester); Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (West End); the Young Chekhov trilogy (Chichester and National Theatre) and The Silver Tassie, The Plough and the Stars and Follies at the National Theatre. Paul was nominated for an Olivier Award in 2013 for Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street and is creative associate with Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures Company.

LUKE HALLS (Video Designer). Theatre includes: West Side Story (Broadway); My Name is Lucy Barton (Bridge Theatre and Broadway); Miss Saigon (Broadway/West End/Japan); Half a Sixpence (Chichester Festival Theatre/West End); Ugly Lies the Bone and Man and Superman (National Theatre); Hamlet (Barbican); Oil (Almeida); The Nether (also Duke of York’s), Linda and 2071 (Royal Court) and Chaplin (Music Hall, Belgium). Opera includes: Otello (Metropolitan Opera, New York); King Roger (Sydney Opera House/ Opera Australia); Das Liebesverbot (also Teatro Real, Madrid/Teatro Colón, Buenos Aires), Don Giovanni (also Barcelona Opera) and Król Roger (Royal Opera House); The Flying Dutchman (Finnish National Opera); Der Freischütz and The Cunning Little Vixen (Royal Danish Theatre) and Carmen (Bregenzer Festspiele). Dance includes: Connectome (the Royal Ballet); Zeitgeist (London Coliseum) and Flight (Rambert). Live events and music includes: Beyoncé (Formation world tour); Adele (2016 world tour); U2 (2015 world tour/2011 Glastonbury Festival); 2012 Olympic and Paralympic closing ceremonies; Robbie Williams (Take the Crown tour); Pet Shop Boys (Turn It On, Pandemonium and Electric world tours); Nitin Sawhney, and Rihanna (BRIT and Grammy awards). Fashion show work includes: Louis Vuitton (Paris Fashion Week, AW15, SS15 and AW16). Luke has received a Knight of Illumination for his work on the Adele world tour and for his designs on the Royal Opera House’s Don Giovanni. He has also been awarded a BAFTA for his work on ITV’s The Cube.

THEO JAMIESON (Musical Supervisor and Musical Director). Theo is a musical director, composer, and pianist. Musical direction for theatre includes: The Wild Party (the Other Palace); Funny Girl (the Savoy Theatre); High Society (the Old Vic); Here Lies Love and Treasure Island (the National) and Putting It Together (St James). He has provided arrangements and orchestrations for Willemijn Verkaik, Maria Friedman and Adam Guettel in concert. His compositions for musical theatre have been performed at Kings Place, the Shaw Theatre, and Blackheath Concert Halls. His musical Kali’s Toenail written with playwright Sonali Bhattacharyya is currently being workshopped by Theatre Royal Stratford East. His classical compositions have been performed by the St Paul’s Sinfonia and members of the English National Ballet Orchestra. He graduated from Trinity College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music.

WILL BURTON CDG (Casting Director). Will is the casting director of Olivier Award-winning Matilda The Musical, In the Heights, and Jesus Christ Superstar. Most recently Will was the Ensemble Casting Director on the Netflix adaptation of Matilda. West End theatre includes: Be More Chill (Shaftesbury); Heathers (Haymarket); Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Apollo); Matilda (Cambridge); Ghost (Piccadilly). London theatre includes: Origin (Almeida); Evita (Barbican and Regent’s Park); Jesus Christ Superstar (Barbican and Regent’s Park); Local Hero, Jekyll & Hyde, High Society (Old Vic); I Think We Are Alone, Fatherland (Frantic Assembly); Leave to Remain, Bugsy Malone (Lyric Hammersmith); Be More Chill, Heathers, The Wild Party (The Other Palace); Ghost Quartet (Boulevard); The View Upstairs (Soho); My Night With Reg, High Fidelity, Torch Song (Turbine); In the Heights (Kings Cross); Five Guys Named Moe (Marble Arch); Working, Xanadu, Carrie, Casa Valentina, Side Show (Southwark Playhouse); The Etienne Sisters (Stratford East); Paper Dolls (Tricycle) and bare (Union). Regional theatre and tours include: Talent, Kiss Me Kate, The Wizard of Oz, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Sheffield Crucible); Piaf, Sweet Charity (Nottingham Playhouse); Insane Animals (HOME); The Assassination of Katie Hopkins (Theatr Clwyd); The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (UK tour); Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (UK tour); Priscilla Queen of the Desert (UK tour); RENT 20th anniversary (UK tour); Matilda (international tour); Ghost (international tour). Television and film includes: Matilda (Netflix); Mary Poppins Returns, Beauty and the Beast (Disney); The Voice, So You Think You Can Dance, Over the Rainbow (BBC) and Superstar (ITV). Will is a full member of the Casting Directors Guild of Great Britain. @WillBurtonCast

PATRICK MOLONY (Production Manager). Productions includes: Young Marx (the Bridge); An American in Paris (Dominion); 42nd Street (Theatre Royal Drury Lane); Show Boat (New London); Kinky Boots (Adelphi); Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Drury Lane); Hamlet (Barbican); The Bodyguard (Dominion and UK tour); Lady Day, No Man’s Land, American Buffalo and Charles III (Wyndham’s); Dirty Dancing (Piccadilly, UK tour and European tours); Blithe Spirit (Gielgud); Private Lives (Toronto and Broadway); Top Hat (Aldwych and UK tour); Photograph 51, Hay Fever, Million Dollar Quartet, Blackbird, Suddenly Last Summer, Master Builder, and Private Lives (Noël Coward); In the Night Garden (UK tour); Queen Anne, The Elephant Man, Fatal Attraction, One Man, Two Guvnors, Waiting for Godot, The Lion in Winter, The Tempest, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Flare Path, and Last Confessions (Haymarket); Zorro, Pygmalion and The Little Dog Laughed (Garrick); Richard II, King Lear, Red, Othello, Frost/Nixon, Polar Bears, and Mary Stuart (Donmar); Ivanov, Twelfth Night, Madame de Sade, and Hamlet (Donmar at Wyndham’s); Entertaining Mr Sloane and Bent (Trafalgar Studios); Spring Awakening (Novello); The Lover and The Collection, Boeing Boeing, and Donkeys’ Years (Comedy); Nicholas Nickleby and Don Carlos (Gielgud); As You Desire Me (Playhouse); From Here to Eternity, The Far Pavilions, and Thoroughly Modern Millie (Shaftesbury); Saturday Night Fever (Apollo Victoria); Stones in His Pockets (West End and world tour) and Annie, Jolson and Buddy (Victoria Palace).   

FIRECRACKER (Inspired by the documentary film). Firecracker Films are the production company behind some of the highest rating and most talked about factual television of the last ten years including the record-breaking international smash hit Big Fat Gypsy Weddings. Drawn to extraordinary characters and stories, other notable successes have ranged from series like Unsafe Sex in the City, Born in the Wrong Body, Daredevils, Repo Man, and Dr. Christian Will See You Now to single documentaries like Secrets of the Living Dolls, The Autistic Me, Don’t Look Down, The Man With The Ten Stone Testicles, The Human Spider, The Brit Who Tried To Kill Trump, and Susan Boyle: Unlikely Superstar. In a world of disposable viewing Firecracker aim to make program that audiences will remember for years and Jamie: Drag Queen at 16 was a perfect example. First broadcast on BBC3 in 2011 the documentary told the moving and inspiring story of Jamie Campbell and his dream of going to his school prom in drag. This musical is a testament to the impact it had on audiences. The film was made by Producer Director Jenny Popplewell with Assistant Producer Laura Ellings. The Executive Producers were Tom Barry and Firecracker’s Chief Creative Officer, Jes Wilkins. 

SHEFFIELD THEATRES (Originating Theatre) is home to three theatres: the Crucible, the Studio, and the Lyceum. Combining classic and contemporary programming with a bold and ambitious approach, Sheffield Theatres has firmly established itself as one of the country’s leading theatres. The produced program spans classics, new writing, large-scale musicals, and innovative theatre experiences whilst the Lyceum, offers the best shows currently on tour in the UK which includes Six The Musical, Heathers, Derren Brown, 9 to 5, and Sister Act. Sheffield Theatres has a reputation for producing outstanding new work, with recent hits including Standing at the Sky’s Edge, with music and lyrics by Mercury Prize nominated Richard Hawley, and a dazzling new adaptation of Yann Martel’s multi-million selling Life of Pi by Lolita Chakrabarti (opened at the Wyndham’s in July 2020). In March 2020, Artistic Director Robert Hastie adapted and directed Shakespeare’s Coriolanus in a searing production for the Crucible stage, whilst Run Sister Run, a co-production with Paines Plough and Soho Theatre starts its life in the Studio. We are so proud to be the home of Jamie in Sheffield. The show wowed audiences when it first opened here at the Crucible in 2017, and it’s wonderful to see it now enjoying continued success in the West End, embarking on a UK tour and, hit cinema screens in a major new film. We hope you enjoy finding out why everybody’s still talking about Jamie.  

PRODUCERS

NICA BURNS OBE (Producer) started as an actress then began creating her own work in the London and Edinburgh Fringes. She is a multi-award-winning producer of over 100 productions. She is Chief Executive and co-owner, with her business partner American producer Max Weitzenhoffer, of Nimax Theatres which owns six West End theatres—the Palace, Lyric, Apollo, Garrick, Vaudeville, and Duchess. Since 1984, she has been the Director of the annual Edinburgh Comedy Awards. Nica is currently finishing building a fantastic, flexible new theatre in a wonderful location in Central London with Derwent London Limited which will open in 2022. It will be the first new West End theatre in 50 years.

IAN OSBORNE (Producer) has invested in lead-in internet and technology companies, and advised their founders and CEOs, since 2009. He was delighted to return to theatre for Everybody’s Talking About Jamie in London’s West End and now for the UK tour, and be partnering with Nica Burns, ten years after their last production. Nica and Ian produced and number of highly successful plays between 2004 and 2007, including Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? with Kathleen Turner and Bill Irwin in the West End and A Moon for the Misbegotten on Broadway. Ian is a Contributing Editor of The Spectator and GQ, and served as a consultant to the Netflix series House of Cards.

PAULA MARIE BLACK (Producer) is a Tony Award, Olivier Award, and Helpmann Award winning producer. Paula Marie received Tony Awards for both the 2015 Best Musical Fun Home and the 2014 Best Musical Revival Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Other Broadway credits include: The Great Comet, Eclipsed, On the Town, Of Mice and Men, Twelfth Night/Richard III, Romeo and Juliet, The Trip to Bountiful, and Hands on a Hardbody. London producing credits include: Olivier Award winning Best Comedy Nell Gwynn, Nice Fish, and The Scottsborro Boys. Paula dedicates her producing to all who have not had a voice.

TC BEECH LTD (Producer). Craig and Teresa were co-producers on the West End revival of Dead Funny and on the Broadway transfer of Oliver Award Nominated Hand To God. They co-produced the Olivier Award-nominated new British musical Loserville, the political farce The Duck House, and the family musical Mr Popper’s Penguins. They have been Associate Producers on This House, Bakersfield Mist, and Dear Lupin. TC Beech Ltd is currently in development on an all-new family musical, in addition to investing in up-and-coming theatre productions across the country. In an effort to encourage appreciation of the theatre in young people, Craig and Teresa are proud supporters of NYT (National Youth Theatre), and YMT (Youth Music Theatre UK).

PEMBERLEY PERRY (US General Management) was formed by the merger of Perry Street Theatricals and Pemberley Productions. They are producers and general managers for theatre productions in New York, Chicago, and on tour in the USA. They also specialize in touring overseas productions across North America. Pemberley is delighted to return to the Ahmanson Theatre where they last served as US General Manager for The Last Ship starring Sting. Additionally, the 21/22 season sees Pemberley Perry producing the tour of How The Hell Did I Get Here? starring Downton Abbey’s Lesley Nicol, and producing the New York and San Francisco productions of The Woman In Black. Upcoming international tours for 22/23 include St. Ann’s Warehouse/Good Chance Theater’s The Jungle and Wise Children’s Wuthering Heights. For more see: www.pemberleyperry.com.

BROADWAY BOOKING OFFICE NYC (Tour Booking, Engagement Management, Press and Marketing) is a leading theatrical tour booking, marketing, and press company representing award-winning musicals and plays. Currently: Jersey Boys, Les Misérables, Beautiful – The Carole King Musical, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Hairspray, To Kill a Mockingbird, Potted Potter, and the new Broadway-bound musicals Dance! Dance! Dance!, and Little Dancer. bbonyc.com 

CENTER THEATRE GROUP

MEGHAN PRESSMAN (Managing Director/CEO) joined Center Theatre Group in 2019. Previously, she served as Managing Director of Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company (D.C.), Director of Development for Signature Theatre (N.Y.), and Associate Managing Director of Berkeley Rep. She is a graduate of Yale School of Drama/Yale School of Management, and serves as a mentor in the Theater Management program. Meghan has served as the Vice-Chair for the Theatre Communications Group Board of Directors, and is a member of the Broadway League. 

DOUGLAS C. BAKER (Producing Director) joined Center Theatre Group in 1990. Doug is an active member of the Broadway League, the Independent Presenters Network (IPN), and is a proud member of the Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers (ATPAM). In 2013, Doug received the Broadway League’s prestigious Outstanding Achievement in Presenter Management Award.

GORDON DAVIDSON (Founding Artistic Director) led the Taper throughout its first 38 seasons, guiding over 300 productions to its stage and winning countless awards for himself and the theatre—including the Tony Award for theatrical excellence, Margo Jones Award, The Governor’s Award for the Arts, and a Guggenheim fellowship. The Kentucky Cycle and Angels in America (Part One) won the Pulitzer in consecutive years and, in 1994, three of the four plays nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play were from the Taper (Angels in America won). In 1989, Gordon took over the Ahmanson and, in 2004, he produced the inaugural season in the Kirk Douglas Theatre.

STAFF FOR Everybody’s Talking About Jamie

GENERAL MANAGEMENT
Laurence Miller and Susanne Noble for Stardanced Productions Ltd

US GENERAL MANAGER
For Pemberley Perry
General Managers: Tim Smith, Doreen Sayegh, Martin Platt
Associate General Manager: Annie Shea Hulcher

FOR BROADWAY BOOKING OFFICE NYC
Steven Schnepp, David Freeland, Kent McIngvale, Jenny Bates,
N. Meredyth Davis, Stacey Burns, Allison Engallena, Phil Della Noce

PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT
AURORA PRODUCTIONS
Patrick Molony and Chris Easton

PRODUCTION TEAM
Resident Director...............................Cameron Johnson
Dance Captain........................................Simeon Beckett
Assistant Dance Captain...........Emma Robotham-Hunt

Company Manager.............................................Jo Miles
Head Carpenter...................................Adrian Emmerson
US Production Stage Manager.................Maggie Swing
Deputy Stage Manager...................................Izzy Circou
Assistant Stage Manager.....................Elizabeth Patrick
UK Technical Assistant Stage Manager.....Oscar Turner
Head of Sound...............................................Mark Karrie
Sound No. 2.....................................................Jonny Else
Chief Electrician.......................................Charles Hickey
UK Electrician 2..............................................Daniel Pirie
Electrician 3 / Video..................................... Bex Bridges
Head of Wardrobe...................................... Iwan Harries
Principal Dresser.............................................Hayley Hill
UK Head of Wigs, Hair and Make Up.......Laura Johnson

Lighting Design at Sheffield Crucible 2017..Joshua Carr
Music Transcription.........................................Tom Brady
Additional Music Transcript....................Theo Jamieson
Horns written and arranged by................Nick Etwell and
                                                                Dan Gillespie Sells
Music Technology..........................................Phij Adams

Production Carpenter................................Nick Campbell
Production Electrician..................................Chris Mence
Production Sound...................................Thomas Ashbee
Production Rigging....................................Nick Campbell

US Lighting Programmer..........................Aria Grosvenor
Video Content Produce..............................Nez Beresford
Video Programmer...................................Harrison Cooke

Set Built and Painted by...................Rocket Scenery Ltd
Set Lighting made by........................Rocket Scenery Ltd
Rigging Equipment supplied by..................Christie Lites
Lighting hires supplied by...........................Christie Lites
Sound Hires supplied by............. Sound Associates, Inc.
Video Hires supplied by.............. Sound Associates, Inc.
Costumes Makers...... Academy Costumes, Pat Farmer,
                  Frankie Farrelly, Paul Aspinal, Harry Whitham
Wigs Makers...........Samuel James Wigs, Webster Wigs
Shoe Maker................................................LaDuca Shoes
Dress Transformation Consultant.....................Ben Hart
Make-up supplied by.............................................Barry M
Production Transport..................................Rock It Cargo

UK Press and PR............................................Jo Allan PR
Graphic Design and Photography....................Dewynters
Production Image...............Matt Crockett for Dewynters
Rehearsal and Production Photography....Matt Crockett
                                                                          for Dewynters

Production Insurance....................................Gordon & Co.
Production Accountants................................Collins & Co.
Legal.......................................... James Jones at Clintons

FOR STARDANCED PRODUCTIONS LTD
Producer.............................................................Nica Burns
General Manager........................................Laurence Miller
General Manager........................................Susanne Noble
General Manager...............Becci Snape (Maternity Cover)
Production Coordinator...................................Liv Marshall
Production Coordinator.....................................Sam Harris
Marketing Manager.................................. Antonia Perkins
Marketing Manager.......................................Kate Kennelly
Design and Digital..........................................Marc Murphy
EA to Nica Burns.......................................Stephanie Creed
EA to Nica Burns...............................................Alex Hornby
PA to Nica Burns.......................................Verdiana Pollano

SPECIAL THANKS
Sheffield Theatres Production department, Southampton Mayflower, all at CTG and everyone who has helped get us to Los Angeles.

DONORS & SPONSORS+

CTGLA STAFF+

OUR SEASON+

PROGRAM HOME+