Hit Musical ‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’ is coming to Liverpool

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, the smash-hit, critically acclaimed West End musical is coming to the Liverpool Empire from Tuesday 16th – Saturday 20th June 2020 as part of its first UK tour.

The show will star Layton Williams (Bad Education, Billy Elliot the Musical) as Jamie New and Shane Richie (EastEnders) as Hugo / Loco Chanelle and they will both be reprising their roles from the West End production.

Layton Williams plays Jamie New and is one of the most exciting talents in UK theatre. He has been playing Jamie New in the West End production of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie since January 2019.

Layton recently performed as Angel in the UK Tour of much-loved musical Rent, for which he received great reviews and in the Sheffield Crucible production of Kiss Me, Kate.

On screen Layton is known for playing the character Kylie in the BBC’s Beautiful People, and for playing the lead alongside Jack Whitehall in the critically acclaimed BBC comedy Bad Education and follow up film.

Layton Williams said: “I’ve loved my time in the West End but am beyond excited to be playing Jamie on tour! This will be my 6th tour and I can’t wait to come back to some of my favourite venues with this beautiful show. I hope you’ll welcome me back with open arms as we share this beautiful story and spread love across the U.K!”

Layton began his career as one of the boys who played the title role in the West End production of Billy Elliot the Musical. He then went on to star as the original Young Michael Jackson in Thriller. Further theatre credits include the role of Seaweed in Hairspray and the touring production of Matthew Bourne’s The Car Man.

Shane Richie plays Hugo/Loco Chanelle and has had a hugely successful career in theatre, film and television spanning four decades and is a regular fixture on primetime television. He is best known for his role as Alfie Moon in the BBC’s EastEnders which he first started playing in 2002 and for which he has won several industry awards and accolades including Best Actor at the Rose d’Or Television Festival.

On stage Shane has starred in Grease (West End), One Flew over The Cuckoo’s Nest (UK Tour), Scrooge: The Musical (UK Tour), Lone Star and Private Wars (Kings Head Theatre). He also played the leads in Peter James’ The Perfect Murder and Not Dead Enough. Shane co-wrote and co-produced the UK tour of Boogie Nights which went on to a sell-out season at the Savoy Theatre in the West End.

Shane Richie said: “I had such a fantastic time playing Hugo/Loco Chanelle in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie in the West End, so when I was offered the chance to be involved in the touring production I jumped at the opportunity to get back into those heels! I believe this show has such an important message for younger and older generations, I’m excited to be taking it to a larger audience around the UK.”

In 2003 Shane wrote the No.1 autobiography and The Sunday Times best seller Rags to Richie. In the same year he released the No.1 record I’m Your Man for BBC Children In Need. In 2017 Shane’s album A Country Soul made it to No.1, securing his position as the UK’s biggest selling country artist.

Nica Burns, Producer of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie said: “Since Everybody’s Talking About Jamie opened in early 2017 at the Sheffield Crucible, written by a virgin British musical theatre writing team and performed by a large cast of mostly new faces, all our dreams for the show have come true. We are a hit! In November we will be starting our third year in the West End and The movie is currently shooting in Sheffield. Now we are going to be playing 20 cities nationwide led by two of our brilliant West End stars, the superb Layton Williams as Jamie and the wonderful Shane Richie as Hugo / Loco Chanelle.”

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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. With catchy songs by lead singer-songwriter of The Feeling, Dan Gillespie Sells, and book and lyrics by writer Tom MacRae, this funny, fabulous, feel-good, musical sensation has been wowing audiences and critics alike. Sixteen: the edge of possibility. Time to make your dreams come true.

To find out more about this show and to buy tickets, click here.

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