There’s a new Miss Hedge in town from 17 November 2019 when actress, singer and radio presenter Preeya Kalidas joins the West End cast of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, plus we are thrilled to see that Roy Haylock, best known as his drag alter ego Bianca Del Rio, will reprise the role of Hugo/Loco Chanelle from 9 December.
Preeya Kalidas said: “I fell in love with Everybody’s Talking About Jamie from the first time I saw it. The music is contagious, the diversity of talent being represented on a West End stage is incredible.
“So to be joining the cast as Miss Hedge, I am extremely excited to be part of a show that makes the audience feel so elated, and reminds us all that being unafraid to do and be whoever you want to be can be extremely powerful.”
Roy Haylock said:“I’m so thrilled and excited to be re-joining the cast of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie in the West End! I had such a blast playing Hugo/Loco Chanelle earlier this year. I'm honored and beyond grateful to have the opportunity to work with such an incredibly talented cast and crew once again!”
Producer Nica Burns added: “As Everybody’s Talking About Jamie starts its third fabulous year in the West End, we are delighted to welcome back the equally fabulous Roy Haylock/Bianca Del Rio as Hugo /Loco Chanelle and the much-loved musical theatre and TV star Preeya Kalidas as Miss Hedge. Roy was a huge hit with audiences when he performed the role earlier this year and Preeya always brings a star performance to every show she is in.”
Kalidas and Haylock will join cast members: Layton Williams (Jamie New), Alex Anstey (Laika Virgin), Alexander Archer (Mickey), Luke Baker (Dean Paxton), Marvyn Charles (Swing), Daniel Davids (Levi), Marlon G Day (Dad), Momar Diagne, Melissa Jacques (Margaret), Zahra Jones (Becca), James Gillan (Tray Sophisticay), Daniel Jacob (Sandra Bollock), Emily Kenwright (Vicki), Sejal Keshwala (Ray), Luke Latchman (Sayid), Jordan Laviniere (Cy), Harriet Payne (Bex), Sabrina Sandhu (Pritti Pasha), Rachel Seirian (Swing), Biancha Szynal (Swing), Adam Taylor (Swing) and Tilly La Belle Yengo (Fatimah).
The first national tour of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie opens in Sheffield on 8 February 2020 and stars Layton Williams as Jamie New and Shane Richie as Hugo/Loco Chanelle who both reprise their roles from the West End.
Inspired by a true story, the show has songs by lead singer-songwriter of The Feeling, Dan Gillespie Sells and book and lyrics by writer Tom MacRae, from an idea by Jonathan Butterell who also directs. The musical has won seven major theatre awards and was nominated for five Olivier Awards.
Bios
Preeya Kalidas is a stage and screen actress best known for playing Amira Masood in BBC’s EastEnders. Kalidas also starred in the British smash hit film Bend it Like Beckham, and then later originated the role of Pinky in the original West End musical cast, for which she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Olivier Awards.
Theatre credits include: Aisha in Chiaroscuro at Bush Theatre, Priya in AR Rahman’s Bombay Dreams at London’s Victoria Apollo Theatre, Loraina in Oxford Street at The Royal Court, Narrator in revival of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat at the Adelphi Theatre, Reema in Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti’s Khandan at Royal Court/ Birmingham Rep, Patty Di Marco in the Original London Cast of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s School Of Rock.
Roy Haylock, as Bianca Del Rio, was the season six winner of the hit TV series RuPaul’s Drag Race. Since winning, he has completed three solo stand-up tours to sold-out audiences around the world, starred in two feature films and written his first book. On stage Haylock has had theatrical starring roles that include Angel in Rent, the Emcee in Cabaret, Miss Industrial Northeast in Pageant, and Miss Mazeppa in Gypsy.
