REVIEW: Kinky Boots the Musical at London Coliseum
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ladies… Gentlemen… And those who have yet to make up their minds! Kinky Boots The Musical is strutting into the spectacular London Coliseum for a joyus, strictly limited season with brand-new production. Johannes Radebe, best known from Strictly Come Dancing steps into the role of Lola, the dazzling, larger than life drag queen. Opposite him is multi‑platinum recording artist Matt Cardle (who, by the way, has a new album dropping this summer) as Charlie Price, the reluctant heir to his family’s failing Northampton shoe factory, Price & Sons.
Charlie decides to uproot to join his high maintenance girlfriend, Nicola (played by Billie-Kay, an Italia Conti alumna) though for a different life in London, but fate has other plans. Back home in Northampton, the factory is on the brink, and Charlie needs a miracle. Enter Lola....No spoilers, but I must bow down to costume designers Robert Jones and Tom Rogers, who go all in on the looks. The boots alone deserve their own curtain call.
Inspired by a true story and the beloved 2005 film, with music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper and a book by Harvey Fierstein, Kinky Boots remains a gloriously camp celebration of friendship, individuality and chosen family.
Hearing Lola drop my favourite Oscar Wilde quote, “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken” made my heart swell and I think I actually levitated in my seat!
The show’s message hasn’t lost any of its power over the last decade either, though some of the dialogue hits differently now, especially in a climate where queer people are facing renewed hostility.
Johannes is an absolutely inspired casting choice. The moment he steps onstage, the energy in the room shifts. His charisma doesn’t just fill the space, it practically radiates from him. His dancing is, of course, every bit as extraordinary as you’d expect, all precision and power wrapped in effortless style. And then there are his vocals, which are a genuine joy to listen to. He’s magnetic in that way only true performers are; your eyes keep drifting back to him even when he’s not the focal point. You can see he’s having the absolute time of his life up there, and that kind of joy is contagious.
And honestly, how did I forget what a phenomenal singer Matt Cardle is? The man opens his mouth and suddenly you’re reminded that he’s got one of those voices that just hits.
He’s also, apparently, my new crush of the day but that’s neither here nor there. Still, worth noting!
The production team is stacked: directed by Nikolai Foster with choreography by Leah Hill, set design by Robert Jones, musical supervision by George Dyer, lighting by Ben Cracknell, sound by Adam Fisher, casting by Harry Blumenau CDG CDA, wigs/hair/make‑up by Campbell Young Associates, associate direction by Michaela Powell, musical direction by Grant Walsh and production management by Setting Line.
Producers include ROYO, Runaway Entertainment and CURVE, alongside a long list of co‑producers who clearly know a hit when they see one.
Joining Johannes and Matt is a stellar West End ensemble: Courtney Bowman as Lauren, Billy Roberts as Don, Rachel Izen as Pat, Jessica Daley as Trish, Jonathan Dryden Taylor as Mr Price, Scott Paige as George and Liam Doyle as Harry. The wider company is packed with talent too, from Andy Barke and Kathryn Barnes to Nay‑Nay, Kofi Dennis, Darnell Mathew‑James and many more. The young performers, Sean Garcia Madiba, Noah Ronkainen Phillips, Rio‑Blake Power, Archie John Allen, Joshua Beswick, Louis Cohen and Callum George round out the cast beautifully as the young company which includes Sean Garcia Madiba, Noah Ronkainen Phillips and Rio-Blake Power as Young Lola and Archie John Allen, Joshua Beswick, Louis Cohen and Callum George as Young Charlie.
Kinky Boots remains a joyous, big‑hearted reminder that embracing who you are can change everything. Just be who you wanna be! With this cast and this creative team, it’s impossible not to leave the theatre smiling.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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