Shobna Gulati, known to many U.K. audiences for her performances on TV’s Coronation Street and Dinnerladies, will step into the West End production of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. She’ll take on the role of down-to-earth family friend Ray, succeeding Mina Anwar, beginning May 7.
The Dan Gillespie Sells and Tom MacRae musical, running at the Apollo Theatre, tells the story of a 16-year-old boy who turns to the art of drag to overcome bullying and taunts about his sexuality. The show is inspired by the 2011 documentary Jamie: Drag Queen at 16.
“Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is a wonderful show; it’s truly warm, infectious for the soul and incredibly uplifting,” Gulati said in a statement. “The entire cast and team are so gifted and such energetic storytellers who give us a universal tale for right now. The show is full of the rich diversity that makes my heart sing and what makes Britain great.”
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Gulati, whose previous theatre credits include Daisy Pulls It Off, Anita & Me, Grease, and April in Paris, joins a cast that currently includes John McCrea as Jamie, Josie Walker as Margaret, Tamsin Carroll as Miss Hedge, Lucie Shorthouse as Pritti, Phil Nichol as Hugo, Alex Anstey as Laka Virgin, James Gillan as Tray Sophisticay, Daniel Jacob as Sandra Bullock, Ken Christiansen as Jamie’s Dad, and Luke Baker as Dean.
