MY LIFE

CO-EDITORS RACHEL MITCHELL AND CELESTE SPAIN

EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE

BY CELESTE SPAIN

It all starts with a pair of red heels and ends with a glitz and glam finale bound to sweep you off your feet – but “none of this is fantasy”, as Jamie says to his teacher, “this is just me, Miss.” Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is an incredible musical about not being afraid to be your true authentic self and striving to achieve your dreams. It also reminds us: there will always be those who try to bring you down just for being you but hell no, you are not gonna let them. At the beginning of the musical we see 16 year old Jamie in his classroom, just a boy who sometimes dreams of being a girl living his life. Isn’t that where it starts for us all LGBT or not? You start to dream of what you want to be and little by little you find yourself. For me, the opening scenes of this musical reminded me of being back in school, of course Jamie seems to already know a part of who he is which I’ve barely begun to discover in myself. The journey of discovery continues for Jamie as he rocks a pair of red heels in school, discovers the art of drag and through some pain and hardship decides to show everyone who he really is. Throughout all this the music is beautiful, with the kind of songs which stick in your mind and make you smile. While also making you realise what wonderful singing voices the actors have, most notably: Layton Williams (Jamie), Sharan Phull (Pritti - Jamie’s bff), Amy Ellen Richardson (Margaret - Jamie’s Mum) and of course Shane Richie (Hugo/ Loco Chanelle - drag queen). Jamie’s best friend Pritti, the on the surface, shy, clever girl comes out of her shell and as Jamie grows in confidence so does she. Eventually even standing up to the bully of the school (and there’s another plot twist there which you’ll pick up on when watching the musical)!

Never underestimate the quiet ones. A character after my own heart, kind, loyal and providing a shoulder for Jamie to cry on when needed. This character of course reminds me of a friend of mine who sets her sights high in life. Pritti truly is the kind of friend anyone would be happy to have by their side. Now Jamie’s Mum Margaret, played by Ellen Richardson has one of the most moving songs of the musical: ‘He’s My Boy’, her voice fills up the whole theatre as she sings lovingly of her son.

The relationship between Jamie and his mum could quite literally move mountains and certainly moves the audience to tears of joy.

Having that home with such warmth and comfort where Jamie is free to be himself is ever so important. There is also love from Jamie’s aunt (who is rather a comical character).

Hugo we first meet when Jamie stumbles across his shop, who we see later transform into the beautiful Loco Chanelle, drag queen extraordinaire. The fact that there is an element of drag in a West End musical feels in itself a major accomplishment. Not to mention the fact that the main character, Jamie, is of course LGBT. I believe it is brilliant that this musical is raising even more awareness around the LGBT community and the art of drag and hopefully the audience can see that being LGBT or doing drag are not things to attack others for but things to be celebrated and accepted by society. Hopefully some may even decide to be allies or be accepting when a family member comes out to them. I also love how the other drag queens are shown as so kind to Jamie and loving drag performance, not to mention the outfits are gorgeous. The staging of the play works very well, with the classroom set being the most used, stools are clicked under in perfect timing to the music, with walls/ a building with windows behind. In which you can see the outlines of the band and from where I was sitting I could just about make out the pianist. In scenes at Jamie’s house, the left side of the set opens out to the right to reveal: the kitchen and stairs. Every element of the musical has been carefully thought through. Finally, the finale had me clapping with joy as the cast sang. I will also just say the sequin jacket Hugo had on looked fab and what a finish to the play!

Favourite Things ABOUT WINTER

BY CELESTE SPAIN

Winter for me is not just a time where you can cosy up by a warm fire with a hot chocolate and watch snow falling outside the window – although that would be a dream scenario for me. It is also a time of reflection on the past year, as the weather turns colder outside we look inwards at how far we’ve come. With everything we’ve been through in terms of the pandemic we certainly could do with a bit of celebration. That might mean, for some, being around your family as families start gathering again, if you are old enough having a mulled wine with a cheeky mince pie or even dancing to some Christmas tunes as the yuletide season approaches. However winter is also a time of traditions, for me there is: the tradition of singing the ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ with my family, helping Grandma put her tree up and decorate her home for the season, baking mince pies with mum (which don’t last very long as they’re very popular in our house) or even watching Polar Express on Christmas Eve each year. These are my favourite things about this season.

Now I realise I’ve mentioned Christmas quite a lot but you can’t blame your mind for wandering to the most joyous time of year, can you? Winter is also a time of remembrance, with Remembrance Day falling on November 11th each year. Also, for me, remembering my late Grandpa who I remember on the 15th of December, his birthday. A man who inspired me so much to raise my voice and stand up for what I believe in, encouraging me to be every part of who I am and to be proud. Therefore winter is both a time of celebrating with the ones we love and remembering the people who we have loved and lost. In many ways it is a key time of year allowing us to take a breath before moving on to the new year full of new and exciting possibilities. Finally, as you wrap up warm and head out to whatever festivities, traditions, relaxing or reflecting you have planned make sure to ask yourself what your favourite things are about winter. I wish you all a lovely winter season, a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

EMMAUS SUFFOLK WORKING TOGETHER TO END HOMELESSNESS

BY AMY WRAGG

Sleepy Suffolk might be the last place you’d expect to find the legacy of a French revolutionary’s ideas, but nonetheless, it is here that Abbé Pierre’s rallying cry against poverty and homelessness still echoes over 70 years later. Emmaus Suffolk is a charity that works with vulnerable, socially isolated, long-term unemployed, and homeless people across the county. Created in 2015 in Ipswich, it operates as both an independent charity and as a member of a national federation of Emmaus Communities across the UK. Whilst all communities are run a little differently from each other, we all share the same fundamental principle of supporting people to work their way out of homelessness and poverty. Having previously worked in live events, a career change was imposed upon me by the pandemic, and I spent many months researching my options. A friend pointed me towards apprenticeships, and my first thought was ‘Im too old and too qualified and I can’t afford to work for peanuts’. However, after a flurry of applications, I found an amazing opportunity to work with Emmaus Suffolk. Not only would they teach me how to run a charity, but I would get a free degree with Anglia Ruskin thrown in, and I would also be paid a fair wage as they are a ‘Living Wage’ employer. I joined the charity in April 2021 as a ‘Chartered Manager Apprentice’ and it’s the best job I’ve ever had. Prior to this I had never heard of the Emmaus movement. Despite it being established in 1949 by Abbé Pierre and operating in 37 different countries around the world, with a whopping 28 communities here in the UK! The idea is simple, that we work together to help ourselves, each other, and the wider community. Most of the Emmaus communities run charity shops and all aim to be self-funding. People who join the residential communities work across the organisation – in the shops, vans, offices and warehouses – generously sharing their skills with the charity to generate more income so that more people in need can be helped. It is these egalitarian ideals of cooperation, respect, hard work and compassion

that have made me an advocate for the movement. Emmaus Suffolk is one of the newest and youngest communities in the UK, yet it has expanded rapidly since inception, responding to the need of the people we work with. We run a whole variety of free activities from our sites in Ipswich and Felixstowe, including our much beloved social hubs where anyone can drop-in for a cuppa and a chat. We also run a thriving gardening club, inspired by a volunteer who transformed a scrubland into an allotment during lockdown, accidentally growing a club along with his tomatoes! We also have a hugely popular upcycling workshop in Sailmakers shopping centre. The workshop offers volunteers the chance to learn how to make old furniture beautiful again, in a supportive and safe environment, whilst also contributing to the charity’s income as these pieces are then sold through our shops. This month we open our very first community café, having taken over The Royal Oak, an old pub on Felixstowe Road, which will sell healthy, affordable homecooked meals. This venue will also offer a diverse programme of free activities including a Music Club, Zine Club, and more. Known for our exceptionally stylish and fairly priced charity shops, we will also have a retail offer, selling our usual range of high-quality clothing, accessories, and furniture.

It really is an honour to work at Emmaus Suffolk and I am constantly annoying my friends by telling them I love my job, and all the talented, hard-working, inspirational people I work alongside. We have a fantastic team of staff, all with their own unique strengths and specialisms, including one member of the support team who uses his lived experience of addiction to support those who are struggling. Since joining I expected to learn about how to run a charity, understand a spreadsheet, write successful funding applications – and I am. But, I am learning so much more. The staff and volunteers at Emmaus Suffolk have taught me about humility, kindness and radical empathy. They have taught me to respect people with different opinions, and they have taught me that, when it comes down to it, we really aren’t that different after all. We all want purpose, acceptance, love, support and a place to call a home, and you can find all of these at Emmaus Suffolk. I have.