Re-live Sheffield's Everybody's Talking About Jamie pink carpet action

The film Everybody's Talking About Jamie has come home to Sheffield, where it started life on stage at The Sheffield Crucible in 2017.

The musical tells the story of Jamie New, a 16-year-old living in Sheffield, who becomes a drag queen and wants to go to his school prom wearing a dress.

It's based on true events, the story of Jamie Campbell, which was originally told in a TV documentary.

On Friday 17th September, stars of the movie hit the pink carpet at The Crucible to celebrate the release, and our friends at Hallam FM got in on some of the action.

Max Harwood (Jamie New): "I've been really adopted by Sheffield"

Max Harwood, who makes his debut in the film, says coming back to Sheffield is "surreal," and a "coming home experience."

He told Hallam about the impact he's hoping the film can have, reaching a global audience: "It's absolutely about having a good time and glitter, but I'm hoping that the audience come away feeling open to joy. Jonathan (Butterell, director) often says when we're open to joy we can open our hearts and minds to learn, and grown, and think about other people's feelings and what they might want. I'm hoping that the community around this film, and not just the LGBTQIA+ community, can shift, really."

Asked about the impact of a film like this when he was growing up, Max added: "I would have visibly seen queer people on screen and that would have made me step into my most authentic self quicker and it's going to hopefully do that for lots of young people.

"We need to keep telling stories. We're not there yet, and we continue to regress in many parts of the world and in many ways, so the more stories we tell like this the better."

Jamie Campbell: "I still don't think that going to prom in a dress is a big deal"

Jamie Campbell, who the story is based on, says his former self "wouldn't believe" the impact his story has had, having heard "so many stories from so many people who've said how it's touched them and changed their lives. It's so rewarding."

"Representation really is important and just to see someone else doing what I love to do would have inspired me to go forth and do it."

His Mum, Margaret, told Hallam: "It's mindblowing, really, it's so surreal, we don't have any other word to say for it! It's absolutely out of this world."

The creators: Jonathan Butterell, Tom MacRae, Dan Gillespie Sells

The original TV Documentary, Jamie: Drag Queen at 16, was watched by Sheffield-born theatre director Jonathan Butterell, who created the show with writer Tom MacRae and composer Dan Gillespie Sells. They went on to direct, write and compose the film version too.

Dan told Hallam: "Tom and I feel like we're from Sheffield, even though we're not. We feel like we've been adopted and very happily so. It's a magnificent city and I don't think I'll ever love another city as much as this city. It's looked after us, we love it.

Tom paid tribute to fans in Sheffield: "This is their night. All of this is because all of them. We'd have nothing if they hadn't come out to support us in our original two-week run. We had the most amazing embrace from the city and the warmth of that has spread literally all around the world."

Jonathan spoke about the impact on young people seeing someone they can relate to on screen: "We're all different. We all have our difference, we're all unique, we're all special. This is about a young queer boy who wants to go to his school prom in a dress. But for me it's about anybody, who wants to find their joy and take it in the world, and find a safe space to do that."

Lauren Patel (Pritti Pasha): "So many of my memories of making this film are engrained in this place."

Lauren Patel, who plays Jamie New's best friend, Pritti Pasha, told Hallam: "The first day that I moved here, Max (Harwood, Jamie New) walked me past the Crucible to show me where the show had started. It's wonderful"

"I hope people get a little bit of joy from the film. I hope that it helps them feel a little bit less alone, and I hope that maybe people get a bit of Jamie's courage."

Mark Herbert (producer): "I couldn't move for two weeks without people talking about it."

The film was produced by Sheffield-based production company Warp Films.

Producer, and joint chief executive at Warp, Mark Herbert, says it all started during the stage musical's 2 week run at the Crucible: "I was filming something at the time, and it was so difficult trying to get to come and see it, but we managed it.

"Literally as I was walking out the door, I rang my business partner Peter and said, 'We need to make this film. We have to make it.'

"The week after, I met Jonathan, Dan and Tom, shook hands, and then we were doing it.

"It's about being whoever you want to be, whatever that is. Just be your most amazing self and let the world accept who you really are. If people don't, they don't matter.

"I was born in Doncaster, grew up in South Yorkshire, went to a comprehensive school. I just hope it makes people think they can achieve anything. You can achieve your dreams!"

Meet the cast of the Everybody's Talking About Jamie film:

Read more:

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• everybody's talking about jamie
• sheffield
• Musicals
• South Yorkshire