Jamie New is 16, lives in Sheffield and dreams of becoming a drag queen. As he faces bullying, prejudice and societal pressure, he finds the courage to embrace his identity. Written by Tom MacRae and Dan Gillespie Sells from an idea by Jonathan Butterell, Everybody's Talking About Jamie has brought this uplifting message of self-confidence to audiences around the world - and now, Revamp MT is preparing for the hit musical's Malta debut.

For Chucky Bartolo, stepping into the shoes of Sandra Bollock did not take much convincing. "A DM from Dorothy Bezzina was hard to ignore," he says. As Revamp MT's artistic director, Bezzina is working alongside musical director Edward Mifsud, choreographer Luke Brincat and set designers Vincienne Spiteri Bezzina and Karl Mohnani to bring the show to a Maltese audience. "From the jump, Dorothy and Edward were so great about making sure that not only was authentic drag seen on that stage, but authentic Maltese drag - in a strong Sheffield accent," he grins.

For Tristan Zammit, who plays Tray Sophisticay, Jamie's story hits close to home. "I was always the shy kid who lacked confidence. Once I put my drag persona, Trihanna, out there, it helped me become more self-aware about what I was capable of. I describe Trihanna as my superhero cape. She helped me find the freedom to express parts of myself that I might have kept hidden."

Bartolo also recognises that transformative power. "To young, queer people, a drag performer can be a lifeline to a life outside all the bullying, or even the horrible mix of fear and boredom when hiding who you are." He believes this message resonates beyond the LGBTIQ+ community, adding, "Straight people wear their own masks every day too, and a drag show is the perfect place to take them off and be yourself without fear of judgement."

The musical has even prompted Bartolo to reconsider his own relationship with drag: "It's really re-inspired me to love drag and remember how important it is for everyone."

Sharing the stage with UK performer Lewis Mullan and fellow Maltese drag queen Zammit has brought not only laughter but camaraderie, he goes on. "The queens in the show work together, but have their own style, identity and background, so each of us naturally brings our own flavour. It's a reminder of how people invent differences to divide us for no reason, because at the end of the day we put our heads together and get the work done."

"You really have to connect with the people you are sharing a scene with," Zammit seconds. "I'm always in awe of how we collectively join forces and make it work."

Joining Bartolo, Zammit and Mullan, the cast features Raphael Pace as Jamie and a talented ensemble that includes Leontine, Claudette Pace, Alan Paris, Maria Buckle, Alexia Manduca, Jake Curti, Paul Portelli and Lawrence Gray.

Together, they share a sense of belonging that is exactly what the show hopes to inspire, Zammit adds. "At its core, drag is about expression and community. Its fundamental purpose is to create a space where we can all sit down, enjoy the entertainment and simply be ourselves." He also hopes the show will challenge misconceptions about drag. "If you come from a more conservative background and you love theatre and musicals, a production like this can be an opportunity to realise that drag is not this 'diabolical' art form that some people choose to portray it as. It can be creative, theatrical, emotional, funny, empowering and, most importantly, something that brings people together."

Bartolo has one final invitation for audiences keen to discover Malta's drag scene: "What you see in the show is an appetiser - you should come for the full buffet!"

Revamp MT's production of Everybody's Talking About Jamie runs at Sir Temi Zammit Hall, Msida, on 31 October and 6, 7 November at 8pm and 1, 8 November at 4pm. This production is recommended for ages 12 and over. Tickets are available from www.showshappening.com/revampmt/jamie. Everybody's Talking About Jamie is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd (www.concordtheatricals.co.uk). This project is supported by Arts Council Malta, Visit Malta and Creative Europe Desk Malta.