EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE @ APOLLO THEATRE, LONDON
50 Scene
CURTAINS UP With many of us desperate to park our bum in a theatre, Alex Klineberg shares some of the best shows, postlockdown, to a bring a bit of gay jollity back to our lives ) The theatre industry has been wiped out since March 2020. In lockdown, we’ve been sitting at home consuming TV, films, music, books and podcasts. The performers who produce so much of the content have been left with little or zero income. Writers can keep on writing. Established stars might have the cash to keep them going for a year, but the vast majority of performers are not Mariah Carey.
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie Based on the true story of a Sheffield teenager who dreamed of being a drag queen, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie became an unlikely smash hit when it opened in 2017. The West End production will return on May 20 at London’s Apollo Theatre. Popular with all age groups, it’s a heartwarming and high camp show you should definitely check out.
Hairspray John Waters’ 1988 cult classic turned out to be Divine’s last movie. Set in the early ‘60s, the film is a bad taste tribute to small-town Americana and pop culture. Despite being a minor hit upon release, the film never went
The musical has been running since 2002. Like Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, it’s a supremely camp, feel-good show. It’ll be heading to the London Coliseum for a limited run from April 22 - August 28 with Michael Ball filling Divine’s wig.
Witness for the Prosecution Based on Agatha Christie’s courtroom drama, this production pays tribute to her book and the 1957 film. Who could forget Marlene Dietrich’s imperious performance? As this is an Agatha Christie story, someone has been murdered and an air of genteel menace prevails. Dorothy Parker said that any
playwright who includes a courtroom scene should be shot, this play is something of an exception. It opens on May 18 at County Hall in London.
SIX The Queens are back! You know, Anne Boleyn, Catherine of Aragon, Jane Seymour… and the other three. You may have heard of them. They had the misfortune to marry Henry VIII, a monarch who had a fixation with beheading his wives. Only this time, they’ve formed a girl band and they’re seeking pop stardom. It’s an ingenious premise for a musical. Six sassy queens ready to sashay out of the history books and slay. You’ll learn a thing or two about British history in the process. The SIX @ THEATRE ROYAL, BRIGHTON
There’s a huge amount of pent-up demand for live events, so when theatre comes back it’s likely to do so in a big way. With a roadmap out of lockdown, theatre productions are now being confirmed for summer and beyond. Here’s our round-up of the theatrical highlights to look out for. Be sure to support the arts and go see some shows when it’s legal to have fun again.
out of fashion. In the age of Drag Race, Hairspray hasn’t dated at all.
