[clockwise] Ivano Turco, John Partridge, Talia Palamathanan, Rebecca McKinnis and Shobna Gulati join the touring cast of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie
After making his West End debut in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella, Black British Theatre Award-winner Ivano Turco (Get Up! Stand Up!, Lyric Theatre) will take centre stage as the irrepressible Jamie New while veteran musical theatre star John Partridge (Cats, UK tour/West End, A Chorus Line, London Palladium) will follow in the footsteps of his former EastEnders co-star Shane Ritchie by stepping into the role of Hugo/Loco Chanelle (from 7 September until 11 November and from 16 January until 16 March 2024).
They will join two of the West End production’s favourite stars, Rebecca McKinnis (Dear Evan Hansen, Noël Coward Theatre, We Will Rock You, Dominion Theatre) and Shobna Gulati (The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, UK tour, Mamma Mia! international tour) reprising their acclaimed performances as Margaret New and Ray respectively. The production will also feature former touring ensemble member Talia Palamathanan (Matilda The Musical, Cambridge Theatre, Soho Dreams workshop, The Lowry) who will step into the role of Pritti.
Announcing the initial casting along with the news that the tour will include a return visit to London with performances at the Peacock Theatre early next year, producer Nica Burns said: “We are absolutely delighted to be announcing a cracking cast for our second national tour. We welcome two new talented stars to the cast of Jamie: Ivano Turco in the title role and John Partridge as his mentors, Hugo/Loco Chanelle. They join two superlative fan favourites from the West End cast, Rebecca McKinnis as mum Margaret and Shobna Gulati (also reprising her role from the film as Ray). Talia Palamathanan, who was such a hit in the ensemble, steps up to the lead role of Pritti.
“We thank all our audiences for the incredible reception they have given us and look forward to sharing our joyful musical once again on tour round the UK.”
As previously announced, following on from its record-breaking three-year West End residency, a first sold-out UK and Ireland tour, and the award-winning film, the second tour will launch at The Lowry in Salford Quays from 7-17 September. Following The Lowry the tour will visit Sunderland, Nottingham, Bromley, Birmingham, Cardiff, Brighton, Leeds, Blackpool, Llandudno, Oxford, Newcastle, Wolverhampton, Woking, London, Sheffield, Liverpool and Glasgow. Further tour dates and casting will be announced at a later date.
Described as a ‘coming-of-age story with a twist’, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is written by singer-songwriter Dan Gillespie Sells, the lead vocalist of rock band The Feeling, and stage and screen writer Tom MacRae, from an idea by Jonathan Butterell. An instant hit with audiences and critics, the musical premiered in Sheffield in 2017 before transferring to London’s West End in November 2017. The show’s first UK tour launched in February 2020.
The creative team includes director Matt Ryan (from original direction by Butterell), designer Anna Fleischle, choreographer Kate Prince, musical supervisor Theo Jamieson, musical director Ben Holder, lighting designer Lucy Carter, sound designer Paul Groothuis, casting director Will Burton and video designer Luke Halls. The Sheffield Theatres Production of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is produced on tour by Nica Burns, Ian Osborne, and Teresa and Craig Beech.
Angela Thomas
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