Everybody's Talking About Jamie

by Tom MacRae (Book & Lyrics), Dan Gillespie Sells (Music), Jonathan Butterell (From an idea by)

Jamie New is sixteen and lives on a council estate in Sheffield.
Jamie doesn’t quite fit in.
Jamie is terrified about the future.
Jamie is going to be a sensation.
Supported by his brilliant, loving mum and surrounded by his friends, Jamie overcomes prejudice, beats the bullies, and steps out of the darkness into the spotlight.
Sixteen: the edge of possibility. Time to make your dreams come true.

Genres: Plays, Theatre, Nonfiction, LGBT

158 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2017

Reviews

[Nadja · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourites musical! Everybodys Talking About Jamie isn't just a fluffy story but deals with heavy topics and has such an important message! I recommend reading the script with listening to the songs that will make the experience even lovelier!

[Tessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Look up the definition of “joy” in the dictionary and you find the name of this musical! I’ve seen it more than once and yet I still had such a great time reading this book while listening to the soundtrack. ♥
I can't even put my love for it into words.

[Ross Duffy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! It’s even better when reading it! I managed to listen to the songs as I read along and it was fab! Love the characters, love the story, love my final read of 2018! ❤️

[Kaitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this musical. The soundtrack is amazing and Jamie is sooo funny

[Irati Agirrezabalaga · Rating 5 out of 5]

I strongly recommend reading this book with the soundtrack ready for when a song comes into play. It makes the experience of reading it 10000 better, I promise.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually bought and almost started reading Macbeth but then realized I've never read or watched a play before so instead, I watched and read Everybody's talking about Jamie simultaneously (which I think is a thing everybody does? I don't know.) I've been meaning to watch the movie since it came out last year but never got the chance but here I am in my blankie at 4 AM after having finished watching+reading the play, not to mention I loved it beary much!!!

Looking to forward to reading more plays in future 'cause I might have a thing for them. Who knows I may end up becoming an off-off-Broadway playwright. When you love art, magic is possible. I'll write my own story because I'm both the narrator and the protagonist!

Here's a link to the stage musical that I watched. Spoiler alert John McCrea is stunningly adorable. Everybody's talking about Jamie

[Yoke Mun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fabulous (like Jamie New)! Watched the musical in London and so glad I got the book after! Re-lived everything from the very start to the end. If anyone's going to London, this is one show you simply HAVE to watch. Love it x

[Les White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the show. Bought the soundtrack and then bought the book.
Listening to the soundtrack while reading the script takes me back to seeing the show.
Would recommend all to everyone. Such a feel good show/soundtrack and book.

[emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was so much fun to read! everybody’s talking about jamie is my favourite musical, so it was great to see how it’s written, and what didn’t actually make it into the show.

[nevaeh galluccio · Rating 3 out of 5]

I fear that I didn’t like this musical as much as I wanted to. I thought the premise was fun and there were some really great moments, but the music and the writing just wasn’t really doing it for me. The music itself (which I listened to as it occurred) felt very standard and conventional, with lyrics that were simple and occasionally bad. I didn’t think any of the characters besides Jamie and his mom were thoroughly developed, especially the character of Dean. Despite him and his mom being very developed, I thought the storyline of his father didn’t have the emotional impact it was supposed to have; I wish they had instead focused more on Jamie’s ostracism at school. Overall, a fun play, but lacking some of the depth and uniqueness that could have made me enjoy it so much more.

[Susan]

As a family we are so up set on new year s eve me and my sister were at the door s at 730 am to get cheap tickets for Jamie and we had come from Egypt for the new year and it was so cold but when the box office opened we couldn't believe how rude the woman was with the ginger hair she took so long on the computer and other people were at the next window all the cheapest seat s were gone she didn't really want to help much and as the we're 4 all gone but we told her we don't mind we're we seat and she was just so rude about it and the only seats were 72 each so we miss out on the show because of your rudeness and the way she spoke to us very very up set it really rudned how new year s eve

[Ilaria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the book I can get everything they say, since I'm not much familiar with the British English and especially with dialects as the show one. The glossary at the end is very useful, too.
It's such a lovely show, the song played in my head as I was reading! I really want to see it live, as soon as it's possible.

Every day's a chance
Every day's a choice
Even losers sometimes end up winning
Go and find your dance
Go and find your voice
Cos the party's only just beginning

Women may be born, but divas are made. Go Jamie!

[Carlo Hengstler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first time I listened to a musical as I read it, and I can highly recommend it. It's actually very enjoyable and adds to the feeling of watching it a lot. I hope one day I can see this musical, and I wish its rights were around when I was in High School, because damn it is great and a perfect message, and a necessity for teens to experience in one way or another!

[James G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Undoubtedly one of my favourite musicals, if not my absolute favourite. Reading the script is joyous and makes me appreciate all the subtle jokes and song reprises that aren't on the soundtrack. Kylie Jenner's Aldi lipstick was a particular fave for me.

[Robin Peeters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastisch stuk en ook het script leest als een trein. Hartverwarmend.

[By The Cover · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Kinda cliche but so so cute and I was actually super into how dark they were willing to go and how relatable they could make it. And the music is crazy catchy. Go you, Jamie.

[kyra mae · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING! love the musical, and this obviously didn't disappoint

[Kirstyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely adore this musical, it brings me so much joy and I'm glad not only that I got to see it but that I got the book too <3

[Mrs S J Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best musical since The Greatest Showman
Absolutely brilliant brilliant brilliant

[zanny taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This show helped me so much it such a powerful well written musical

[Carenza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had the pleasure of seeing this show and so I decided to pick up the script. Still super enjoyable.

[charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

★ six stars || oh my drag, this is one of my fave musicals ever so finding the script at the drama bookshop was so effing exciting!!!

jamie is one of my dream roles and if I could ever play him I’d die happy, even though I’m American and trans.

everyone needs to listen to this musical it’s so chuffing good!! (yes I use British slang get over it)

please everyone go either read the script, listen to the soundtrack, watch the movie on Prime, or watch the proshot on YouTube.

because everybody (me) is talking about Jamie…

x

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.

I watched the play last week for my birthday and been thinking about it ever since. Reading the play was just as good as watching it and I listened to the recording of the songs whilst reading to make me feel more in the atmosphere of the play.

Reading this has made me want to go and see it again ASAP!!!

[Cara Patel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has an incredibly fun tone while dealing with some quite serious topics in places (homophobia, split up parents, bullying). At its core it has some incredibly important messages.