Bianca Del Rio to make West End debut in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie

Bianca Del Rio will make her West End debut as Hugo/Loco Chanelle in Everybody's Talking About Jamie at the Apollo Theatre, it has been announced.

She is best known for winning RuPaul's Drag Race in 2014 which featured Michelle Visage on the judging panel, who recently starred in Everybody's Talking About Jamie as Miss Hedge.

Since RuPaul's Drag Race, Del Rio has appeared in feature films including Hurricane Bianca, as well as being the first drag queen to perform a solo stand-up comedy show at Wembley Arena in 2018.

Bianca Del Rio, who sometimes performs under their given name of Roy Haylock, has also starred in productions of Cabaret as the Emcee, Vince Fontaine in Grease and Angel in Rent.

On making her West End debut, 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!'

Del Rio will star in Everybody's Talking About Jamie in a limited engagement from 6^th May to 29^th June, taking over the role from Shane Richie.

She will appear alongside the recently announced Faye Tozer as Miss Hedge, who will join the production on the same day.

Based on a BBC documentary, Everybody's Talking About Jamie follows 16-year-old Jamie New, who wishes to attend his school prom in a dress. Exploring themes of sexuality, acceptance and confidence, it has recently been confirmed that the musical has extended its run at the Apollo Theatre to January 2020.

Layton Williams currently plays the lead role, alongside Hayley Tamaddon as Miss Hedge, Sejal Keshwala as Ray and Sabrina Sandhu as Pritti Pasha.

Everybody's Talking About Jamie is currently at the Apollo Theatre with a booking period to 25^th January 2020.

Everybody's Talking About Jamie tickets are available now.

^{Photo credit: Jovanni Jimenez Pedraza}