Bianca Del Rio to join Everybody’s Talking About Jamie West End cast
Drag superstar Bianca Del Rio is to join the West End cast of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.
Bianca, best known for winning RuPaul’s Drag Race, will join the current cast from May 6.
She’ll play the role of Hugo, who also goes by the drag alter-ego Loco Chanelle, through to June 29.
Bianca – real name Roy Haylock – will take over from EastEnders star Shane Richie who has been in the show since January. He is scheduled to play his final performance on May 4.
Bianca Del Rio said: “I’m absolutely ecstatic to be joining the brilliant cast of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie! What better way to return to the musical theatre stage than in a WEST END production?! It’s such an incredible honour. Helen Mirren beat me to playing Queen Elizabeth, so I accepted the role of the next best admired queen… Loco Chanelle!”.
Nica Burns, Producer of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie said: “We are so excited to have a genuine drag queen playing the part of Loco Chanelle/Hugo for the first time. Bianca Del Rio is a queen amongst queens, a world-famous, RuPaul’s Drag Race winner.
“This is her West End debut and while dazzling us as Loco Chanelle, she will also be channelling her inner actor in the double role of Hugo”.
Tweeted the official Jamie Musical Twitter account: “YAASS QUEEN! We are so excited to have the legendary @TheBiancaDelRio join us for 8 weeks only from 6 May in the role of Hugo/Loco Chanelle! We are so happy to have you on board for #JamieLondon”
It was previously announced that Steps star Faye Tozer will also join the cast of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie later this year.
She’ll be playing the role of Miss Hedge – currently played by Hayley Tamaddon – from May 6 through to August 3.
Alongside her pop career, recent Strictly Come Dancing finalist Tozer’s stage credits include Tell Me On A Sunday, The Tailor-Made Man and Rhinestone Mondays.
Inspired by a true story, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie has proved a hit on the West End ever since opening in 2017.
Supported by his brilliant loving mum and surrounded by his friends, 16-year-old Jamie overcomes prejudice, beats the bullies and steps out of the darkness, into the spotlight.
The title role of Jamie New is currently played by Layton Williams (Bad Education, Beautiful People) with the rest of the 2019 cast including Rebecca McKinnis, Sejal Keshwala, Sabrina Sandhu.
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The musical, which features music by Dan Gillespie Sells and lyrics & book by Tom MacRae, is currently booking through until Saturday, 25 January 2020.
It was announced in 2018 that a film adaption was in the works, with filming scheduled to begin later this year.
