Starring Johannes Radebe, Dan Partridge, Courtney Bowman, Scott Paige, and Newtion Matthews
On at the Palace Theatre Manchester, 7 January 2025
Written by Harvey Fierstein
Music and Lyrics by Cyndi Lauper
Directed by Nikolai Foster
Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Based on the (mostly) true story of Charlie Price, Kinky Boots charts him going from reluctant heir to a shoe making factory to saving it from closure by teaming up with drag queen Lola to create the titular boots.
Starring Strictly Come Dancing‘s Johannes Radebe and Dan Partridge (Grease), this show blew me away. I had seen the films ages ago and knew the general premise, but the songs are toe-tappingly catchy and man can Johannes Radebe sing!
The costuming is just incredible. The drag queens own the stage every time they’re on it, and I have to mention the white dress that Lola wears to sing at the care home. It literally took my breath away.
Staging is also brilliant. I’m fascinated by how set designers can make a stage seem so much bigger, and encompass so many different scenes. Not quite as clever as Come From Away, which had so much suggested by lighting alone, but still very intriguing.
Lola challenges a lot of the other characters; Don in particular, but even Charlie reveals his prejudices during a rant. Coupled with Lola’s story of childhood, the audience is given a no-holes-barred look at life as a young gay man growing up. One that is, sadly, still very relevant.
Yet, Kinky Boots is a life-affirming joy of a show, with the factory not just saved but wowing the catwalks of Milan. An easy five stars, and I must mention the incredibly kind and lovely staff at the Palace Theatre for their help with my disabled friend.
