‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’ announces new actor for the titular character
Noah Thomas will replace Layton Williams in the award-winning West End production
By Steve Brown
Words: Steve Brown
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie has announced Noah Thomas will replace Layton Williams in the award-winning West End production.
As Layton Williams prepares to embark on a nationwide tour of Dan Gillespie-Sells West End musical, the role of lead character Jamie New has been empty – until now.
The production is set to welcome Noah Thomas to the stage early next year and marks the third actor to play the character.
Speaking of his new casting, Thomas said: “What a whirlwind! Only two weeks ago I was studying at Mountview and had very little time to prepare for the audition, which I saw as a chance to gain some experience in the industry.
“I was asked back the next day, not expecting anything, and they asked me if I would like to play Jamie. I couldn’t believe it.
“Nica told me to go outside the theatre and look up. It was then I realised that my face would be in lights on Shaftesbury Avenue.
“This is so surreal, and I am so ready for whatever this experience holds.”
Nica Burns, producer of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie said: “Noah was the 211th and final performer we auditioned for Jamie.
“After he’d sung the opening number and read the first scene, I was tingling with excitement. We had found our Jamie.
“Noah is making his professional debut in one of the biggest and most demanding roles in musical theatre: it needs a really good actor who can also sing and dance to the highest level.
“We never imagined we would be casting a 20 year old drama school student at the start of his career.
“Noah is going to be a fantastic Jamie and the possibilities for his future are boundless.”
Based on the true story of Jamie Campbell, the story follows the titular character from Sheffield who overcomes prejudice and becomes a drag queen.
The award-winning musical is also being adapted into a movie starring newcomer Max Harwood is set to play the titular character alongside Catastrophe star Sharon Horgan as Miss Hedge and Sarah Lancashire will play Jamie’s mother, Margaret.
Oscar-nominated actor, Richard E Grant, has also been cast to play the part of the former drag queen Hugo in the movie adaptation of the hit stage musical.