Ep. 57 - Jonathan Butterell & Lauren Patel "Everybody's Talking About Jamie"

Inspired by true events, Everybody's Talking About Jamie follows Jamie New (Max Harwood), a teenager from Sheffield, who dreams of life on stage. While his classmates plan their livelihoods after they leave school, Jamie contemplates revealing his secret career ambition to become a fierce and proud drag queen. His best friend Pritti (Lauren Patel) and his loving mum (Sarah Lancashire) shower him with endless support, while local drag legend Miss Loco Chanelle (Richard E. Grant) mentors him toward his debut stage performance. But Jamie also has to contend with an unsupportive father (Ralph Ineson), an uninspired careers advisor (Sharon Horgan), and some ignorant school kids who attempt to rain on his sensational parade. In rousing and colourful musical numbers, Jamie and his community inspire one another to overcome prejudice, be more accepting, and to step out of the darkness into the spotlight. Jonathan Butterell makes his feature film directing debut with Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. Butterell is a stage director and choreographer who has worked in London, New York and around the world. As well as developing and directing the stage show of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, further theatre director credits include: Alone Together; Floyd Collins; Peter Pan; and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Butterell created the musical staging for the Tony® award-winning shows The Light in the Piazza and Assassins, as well as the revival of Fiddler on the Roof and the musical staging for the original workshop of Sondhiem’s musical Wise Guys with Nathan Lane and Victor Garber at New York Theatre Workshop, directed by Sam Mendes. Butterell also choreographed the Tony award-winning Nine, starring Antonio Banderas and Chita Rivera on Broadway (and further productions in London, Buenos Aires, and Tokyo, all directed by David Leveaux). Newcomer Lauren Patel will make her screen debut in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, the feature film adaptation of the hugely successful West End Musical of the same name. Lauren will play “Pritti Pasha,” a modern Muslim girl who is Jamie’s best friend and ally. Originally from Bolton, Lauren was cast as “Pritti” after responding to an open call for the film, while still studying at college.