This week, West End performer Jaime Tait joins me for part one of a two-part conversation. Jaime and I went to drama school together when we were just 21 and so I thought I knew him. This conversation opened up a whole new side to jaime that I had never seen and I'm truly grateful for this honesty and wisdom.
We go back to growing up in Birmingham as one of seven, what was expected of him as a Black boy, and the mindset that has kept him on stage for ten years and counting. It's a conversation about energy, self-belief, and feeling like you always have more to prove.
A quick note: the first 10 minutes or so are audio only because of a camera problem. The video comes in at about 12 minutes.
Follow Jaime on Instagram at @jaaytait
Follow along on TikTok and Instagram at @christopherallenofficial, and follow on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts.
New episodes every Wednesday. Part two is out next Wednesday ✨
References mentioned in this episode:
- Urdang, now part of City St George's, University of London (where Jaime and I trained): https://www.citystgeorges.ac.uk/about/schools/communication-creativity/performing-arts
- Legally Blonde The Musical, UK and Ireland tour (Jaime's current show): https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/legally-blonde/
CONTENT WARNINGS
- RACISM AND RACIST LANGUAGE
- HOMOPHOBIA
- A PARENT'S REACTION TO COMING OUT
- AN UNSETTLED HOME LIFE IN CHILDHOOD
- STRONG LANGUAGE
CHAPTERS
- 00:00 Intro
- 01:29 Knowing someone at 21, and ten years in the West End
- 03:15 Growing up in Birmingham as one of seven: what was expected
- 04:53 Becoming the people pleaser, and the empath in the middle
- 07:30 Knowing he was gay, and using comedy to change the subject
- 10:30 Signs, labels and rules: "we're all very free beings"
- 12:24 Keeping the love for performing, and why energy gets you hired
- 16:58 Telling his dad he was gay the day before moving to London
- 20:00 Dancing "like a boy" at Urdang, and embracing every side of himself
- 24:12 More to prove: being Black and gay in the cast
- 25:27 Minority stress, intention, and whether to correct people
- 31:51 The most powerful skill: staying in a good mood
- 32:40 Meeting James, self-belief and audition rituals
- 39:17 "I know I'm going to be a lead role"
