John was cast in the lead role of critically acclaimed musical Everybody's Talking About Jamie. The production, based on a 2011 BBC documentary entitled Jamie: Drag Queen At 16, follows 16-year-old schoolboy Jamie, as he realises his dream to become a drag queen. Living on a Sheffield council estate, Jamie has to overcome the prejudice that comes with being his real self, to attend his school prom in full drag. The show opened its original run in Sheffield itself, and after winning a string of awards — including one for best performance in a musical for John at the UK Theatre Awards — the show secured a spot in London's West End. The success truly cemented John as a performer to watch.