Act One

A Careers lesson for Year 11 students at Mayfield school in Sheffield. Their teacher, Miss Hedge, tries to hold the students attention, asking them what they want to be when they leave school. She's unsuccessful and the class is raucous and distracted each time she picks someone new. 16 Year old Jamie New, sits quietly at the back, reading a magazine and daydreaming, while his class cause a riot. ("And You Don't Even Know It") When prompted, Jamie tells the class he wants to be a performer, but Miss Hedge tells him to get real. ("And You Don't Even Know It - Tag")

Jamie's House, in the backyard. Jamie's Mum, Margaret, and her best friend, Ray, are gossiping and drinking, whilst putting the finishing touches to Jamie's birthday decorations. Jamie gets a surprise when he walks in and tells them about his disappointing careers lesson. Margaret gives Jamie a card from his father with a picture of a racing car on the front and then produces a shoebox containing a pair of bright-red high heels from Meadowhall. Jamie is ecstatic to try them on, and although he stumbles in them at first, soon struts in the yard in them. Margaret and Ray disappear, as Jamie doubts himself unsure about going past the yard in case someone sees him. ("The Wall in My Head") Margaret and Ray return with a cake blazing with candles. Jamie blows out the candles, making a wish.

The next day at school, Jamie shows his best friend Pritti his new heels, and then he is interrupted by Dean, the school bully. He taunts Pritti for being Muslim, and Jamie for being gay. Jamie taunts Dean; embarrassed, Dean leaves. Pritti encourages Jamie to go to prom in a dress ("Spotlight"). Jamie then parades around the classroom in his heels ("Spotlight (Reprise) (Star of the Show)").

At his local shop for drag queen attire, Victor's Secret, Jamie befriends the owner Hugo, and learns all about Hugo's past as a drag queen ("The Legend of Loco Chanelle (and the Blood Red Dress)"). Hugo books Jamie's first drag show at the local nightclub, and helps Jamie choose his dress ("The Legend of Loco Chanelle (and the Blood Red Dress) (Reprise)").

Meanwhile, Margaret meets with Jamie's dad, where she reveals she has been lying to Jamie about his dad, including the fact she has to write a birthday card from him each birthday. Jamie's dad tells Margaret he wants nothing to do with Jamie, claiming he is not a "real boy". Margaret ponders what her life would be like if she never met Jamie's dad ("If I Met Myself Again").

At school, Jamie pulls Pritti into a disabled toilet so she can help with his make-up. They are discovered by Miss Hedge, but Pritti tells her that she is doing Jamie's make-up for an art project. Miss Hedge tells Jamie that he should be proud of being an art project, and walks him around school in the make-up. Jamie, initially embarrassed by the attention, decides to be proud of himself, telling the school that he is doing a drag show at the local nightclub, Legs Eleven, that night ("Work of Art").

Outside Legs Eleven, Jamie bumps into Dean, who calls him a minger. Inside the club, Margaret and Ray have been introduced to a group of drag queens: Laika Virgin, Tray Sophisticay, and Sandra Bollock. Hugo emerges, now dressed as Loco Chanelle, his drag alter-ego. Jamie runs in to tell them all he cannot go on because of what Dean said. Jamie finds the dress he admired at Victor's Secret in his dressing room, with a tag on saying "Love Dad" as well as a flower delivery from Jamie's dad. Loco Chanelle, with the help of the other drag queens, encourage Jamie to find his drag self, whom Jamie calls Mimi Me (“Over The Top”). As Loco announces Jamie over the sound system, Dean and his mates chant 'minger' as we see Jamie in drag. (“Out Of The Darkness”).

Act Two

The next day, the school is buzzing with news of Jamie's drag debut ("Everybody's Talking About Jamie"). Jamie comes into school in bright blue eyeshadow and long eyelashes. Miss Hedge once again tells Jamie to "get real", and Dean taunts Jamie, but Jamie kisses him in retaliation, leaving Dean confused.

At home, Jamie shows Margaret and Ray his new prom dress, now shortened and fitted with working flashing lights. Margaret worries if this is all too much ("Limited Edition Prom Night Special"). The phone rings, and Jamie and Margaret are called to the school.

Jamie, Margaret and Ray go to the school to meet with Miss Hedge, who tells Jamie that there have been rumours that he will be attending prom in drag, and she will not allow it. Jamie is disappointed, and Dean seems to know all about it.

In Pritti's bedroom, Jamie rants to Pritti about how he is not allowed to go to prom in drag. Pritti tells Jamie to go in a dress - not in drag. Jamie says that without Mimi Me, he is ugly. Pritti reassures Jamie that he is far from ugly ("It Means Beautiful"). Jamie reveals that when he was eight, his dad found him in a dress and was angry. He is then confused as to why he paid for the dress and bought flowers if he is not supportive of him as a drag queen. Pritti suggests Jamie should go to his house and speak to him. Before he leaves, Jamie kisses Pritti on the cheek ("It Means Beautiful (Reprise)").

At the house of Jamie's dad, Jamie's dad reveals that he did not know about Mimi Me and calls Jamie disgusting. He tells Jamie he did not pay for the dress or flowers. Jamie figures out that it was his mother doing all of this in his dad's place ("Ugly in This Ugly World").

At home, Jamie argues with Margaret over why she has been lying over all these years. Jamie screams in Margaret's face and storms out. Margaret, left alone, sings about how she will always love Jamie no matter what ("He's My Boy").

Jamie wanders the streets drunk on cider. He is approached by three local boys, and is beaten up as they shout homophobic remarks about him. ("And You Don't Even Know It (Bus Station Reprise)"). Jamie is defended by Hugo, who urges Jamie to go home and apologise to his mum.

Jamie takes Hugo's advice and Margaret and Jamie apologise to each other ("My Man, Your Boy").

At the prom, all of the kids are very excited ("Prom Song"). Pritti enters, wearing makeup and a prom dress. All the girls love it, but Dean decides to bully her. She finally stands up to Dean, and then reveals Jamie, in a white prom dress. Miss Hedge comes out of the school and refuses Jamie's admission to the prom. All the kids stand outside and chant Jamie's name until Miss Hedge gives in and lets him in. Jamie waits until everyone's gone in, and then calls Dean out from off-stage. Jamie encourages Dean to be nice just for one night, to which Dean agrees, and they walk into prom hand-in-hand ("Finale").

As an encore, the cast perform "Out of the Darkness (A Place Where We Belong)".

Notable West End replacements

• Jamie: Layton Williams^[6]
• Ray: Shobna Gulati^[7]
• Hugo: Lee Ross,^[8] Shane Richie,^[9] Bianca Del Rio,^[10] Bill Ward,^[11] Rufus Hound^[12]
• Miss Hedge: Michelle Visage,^[13] Hayley Tamaddon,^[14] Faye Tozer,^[15][16] Rita Simons,^[17] Preeya Kalidas,^[18] Katy Brand^[19]

Orchestration

Dan Gillepsie-Sells originally orchestrated the musical for:

• Piano-Conductor (keyboard 1)
• Bass/Synth bass
• Guitar/Keys 2/Mandolin
• Tenor Saxophone
• Trumpet/Flugelhorn/Piccolo
• Trombone †
• Percussion
• Drums

† For the UK tour production, a reduced orchestration was created, moving from 8-piece band to a 7-piece, with the trombone part being removed.

Recordings

Sheffield and West End (2017–2021)

The musical premiered at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield on 13 February 2017, following previews from 8 February, it finished its short run on 25 February, directed by Jonathan Butterell. The musical transferred to the West End at the Apollo Theatre from 6 November 2017 with most of the Crucible Theatre cast returning.

The show went on hiatus on 17 March 2020 as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic.^[21] The show returned on 12 December 2020,^[22] with social distancing measures being implemented on the audience.^[23][24] The show closed just four days later.^[25] The show reopened with social distancing measures still in place on 20 May 2021.^[26] The show went on a break from 26 September 2021.^[27]

UK tour (2020–2022)

A UK tour began from 8 February 2020, opening at the Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield starring Layton Williams and Shane Richie reprising their roles of Jamie and Hugo/Loco Chanelle from the West End production.^[28] However, in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic the tour was forced to stop.

In May 2021, It was announced the tour would recommence in Salford at The Lowry on 1 September 2021. Bianca Del Rio played the role of Loco Chanelle at certain venues.^[29][30][31]

Seoul (2020)

The Korean production opened at the LG Arts Centre in Seoul from 4 July to 11 September 2020. Four actors; 2AM's Jo Kwon, NU'EST's Ren, Astro's MJ, and musical theatre actor Shin Joo-hyup shared the role of Jamie.^[32]

Japan (2021)

The Japanese production was announced in February 2021. It was announced that the musical will be shown in three cities: Tokyo (July 8 - August 29, Brillia HALL), Osaka (September 4–12, Shin Kabukiza) and Aichi (September 25 and 26, Aichi Prefectural Art Theater). Due to new COVID restrictions in Tokyo the premiere was delayed to August 8. The cast features Win Morisaki and Fu Takahashi as Jamie New. The cast also features long established performers, such as Zen Ishikawa as Hugo, Chizu Hosaka as Ray, Kiyotaka Imai as Jamie's dad and Sandra Bollock and Keigo Yoshino as Laika Virgin.^[33]

Los Angeles (2022)

The musical made its American premiere at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles from 16 January to 20 February 2022.^[34] Layton Williams and Bianca Del Rio reprised their roles as Jamie New and Hugo/Loco Chanelle respectively.^[35][36]

Australian tour (TBA)

The show was scheduled to embark on an Australian tour from 18 July 2020, at the Sydney Opera House before touring to Sydney Coliseum Theatre (4 to 13 September), The Art House Wyong (1 to 4 October), Arts Centre Melbourne (9 to 25 October), Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Brisbane (13 to 29 November), Canberra Theatre Centre (11 to 13 December), His Majesty's Theatre, Perth (22 to 31 January 2021) and Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide (5 to 14 February).^[37] However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tour was cancelled.

Italy (2022–2023)

The Italian production was announced in 2020. The debut will take place in 2022 in Rome at the Brancaccio Theater. The first Italian Tour will take place in 2023.

UK tour and London (2023–2024)

It was announced in June 2022 that the production will tour the UK again beginning at The Lowry, Salford in September 2023 until July 2024.^[38] It will also include a return run in London at the Peacock Theatre from 8 February to 23 March 2024.

Mexico (2023)

The first Spanish language production of the musical premiered on April 14, 2023 at Teatro Manolo Fabregas in Mexico City. The show is headlined by Mexican singer and TV star Joaquin Bondoni and Guatemalan singer Nelson Carreras, both alternating the role of Jamie New.

Sweden (2023)

On September 1, 2023, the first Swedish production of the musical premiered at Malmö Opera with Oscar Pierrou Lindén in the lead role, and opera singer Loa Falkman as Hugo.^[39]

Original West End production