Presented by Find Your Light Theatre
Review by Hunter King
Find Your Light Theatre has certainly found theirs in their production of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie at the Church Hill Theatre. This scrappy group of young’ns put together a fully staged production in just under two weeks, and while the show may have a moment or two that could use a bit of a makeover, it knew exactly what it wanted to be and came together swimmingly.
The show is about Jamie (Olly Freeman-Ferguson, or Rory Pentland on other performances), who everybody is talking about because he dreams of becoming a drag queen. With the help of a supportive best friend, Pritti (Lucymarie McEvoy), his mother Margaret (Brook Dunbar, or Isla Nisbet on other performances), her best friend, Ray (Iris Simmonds), and a local drag legend (Sam Carlin/Cherry West), Jamie fulfills his dreams and stands up to a prejudiced teacher (Eve Morrison) and homophobic bully (Dylan Hynd). Jamie deals with rejection, hatred, and downright nastiness with confidence and embraces who he is, “a boy, who just wants to be a girl sometimes.”
The show itself thrives in areas, namely Freeman-Ferguson’s unapologetic portrayal of Jamie. From the very start of the show, Freeman-Ferguson owns the stage with a confidence that is seldom seen from actors his age. While the show is vocally demanding, he is able to approach most of the score with ease and always maintains an authenticity in his portrayal of the title character. It’s no wonder everybody is talking about him.
Other highlights include the vocal talents of Carlin and McEvoy, both of whom approach their solo numbers with ease and deliver some of the biggest powerhouse numbers of the evening. Special mention must be reserved for Simmonds, who kept high energy and consistently brought the acting chops to the table. Esme Hobson was another standout, naturally stealing the scene whenever she appeared as Bex, a popular girl. Hobson approached each genuinely and was one of the few actors who felt like the character she was playing, rather than an actor playing the character, a skill that is incredibly rare for any performer, especially one as young as she is. Carlin, also known locally as Cherry West brings a boisterousness to the stage, often embodying the charisma and bravado of a cruise line activity director. While her energy is sometimes larger than life, she is certainly one of the more entertaining members of the cast.
The show came with some impressive technical elements, including consistent microphones (a major feat for the Church Hill stage), and a stellar lighting design from Owen. While some of the set transitions were a bit clunky and far too loud, the set itself was well designed and versatile for the many locations needed for the show. The choreography of the show was largely on point under the instruction of Charlotte Henshall, despite there being a few moments that felt disjointed from the action on stage and more of a showcase of the ensemble’s talent. Additionally there were far too many dabs, which at some point started to feel distracting and less than authentic for teenagers in the 2020’s. That said, the choreography overall was impressive, especially in moments like the title song which was an overall standout of the show.
While Everybody’s Talking About Jamie may not have been the most polished show, it was certainly an impressive production for the amdram youth of Edinburgh, which is only highlighted by their confidence in the material and their quick rehearsal process. If you’re looking for a proud and vibrant good time, this is not one to be missed!
A Vibrant Good Time
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie runs at Church Hill Theatre until July 18th
Running time – Two hours and twenty minutes with one interval
Review by Hunter King (contact@corrblimey.uk)
Hunter is a 2024 Master’s graduate of the University of Edinburgh and current doctoral candidate with a thesis focused on experimental theatre in Edinburgh. He has been a theatre practitioner for over a decade having worked in many capacities including as a director, actor, stage manager, front of house manager, and technician as well as others. Prior to moving to Edinburgh, Hunter was a high school English teacher in the United States. His passion for the written word as well as his passion for live performance are what motivated him to become a writer for this publication.
