‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’ in South Korea

4 Aug 2020 | Filed under Arts,Culture,Performing Arts | Posted by admin

One of the many downsides of the COVID-19 situation is the Australian tour of the musical Everybody’s Taking About Jamie has been postponed. Usually musicals take ages to get to Australia, and even longer to get to Perth, so it was an exciting announcement that the show would be coming down under just a few years after it’s West End debut.

The musical tells the story of Jamie New, a teenager in Sheffield who dreams of becoming a drag queen. Unfortunately his guidance councilor Miss Hedge says his psychometric tests suggest he should become a forklift driver.

The London production has attracted some much loved performers to sign up for stints in the show. Michelle Visage did a stint as Miss Hedge, Roy Haylock aka Bianca Del Rio as played drag mentor Hugo, and Layton Williams from Beautiful People has taken on the lead role in later shows.

While Australia will have to wait a little longer for the show, it has begun playing in South Korea, bringing its message of queer acceptance and embracing diversity to a country which often retains a lot of stigma against being LGBTIQ.

The South Korean production features several different performers in the role of Jamie New. Ren is well known in South Korea as a vocalist in local band NUEST and for his many TV appearances. MJ from the band Astro is also playing the role, alongside Japanese performer Yusuke.

Recently all three actors took to the stage to perform the show’s opening number. The whole musical and all its songs have been translated into Korean.

Take a look.