A joyful celebration of the beauty in being different (and shoes, lots of shoes), Kinky Boots the Musical sashays onto the stage at Nottingham’s Theatre Royal in an explosion of glitter, music and exceptional choreography.
When Charlie Price - a down-on-his-luck salesman - reluctantly inherits his father’s shoe factory, it’s going to take a miracle to save the workers’ jobs. A miracle that turns up in the form of Lola, a magnificent drag queen with a wobbly heel and the key to a new, niche market.
Based on the 2005 film and inspired by a true story out of factory town Northampton, the clever staging reflects the two sides at the core of the show, juxtaposing industrial steel and leather with the sequins and silk of drag. The heavy iron beams that frame the stage transform into glowing red strip lights, turning the grimy factory into a glittering dance club, and back again – often allowing the two to co-exist beautifully alongside one another. We love a metaphor.
Music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper carry her signature rocky-pop vibes, and it’s hard to resist the urge to jump up and dance during both the closing of Act One (Everybody Say Yeah) and the finale (Raise You Up).
Johannes Radebe is stunning as drag queen Lola, the Strictly Come Dancing star absolutely shining in his musical theatre debut. Radebe’s extensive dance background is evident in the showy numbers (Land of Lola, Sex is in the Heel) as his moves are sharp and precise, while still vibrating with energy. For the heartfelt numbers (Not My Father’s Son, Hold Me In Your Heart), Radebe brings a certain flair to the otherwise more sombre pieces.
Every time Lola’s angels burst onto the stage in a whirl of colour, you can’t help but grin. Rather than being a troupe of interchangeable faces, every one is memorable and an absolute joy to watch
Billed as a ‘rising star’ (and for good reason), Dan Partridge showcases powerful vocals and a commanding stage presence as Charlie. Impressive both in the rocky solo Step One and the more ballad-like Soul of a Man, Partridge is perfectly cast as the often-frustrated factory owner, bringing life and emotion to the role.
Courtney Bowman as Lauren is the perfect blend of comedy and heart, not to mention an incredible voice. Bowman lands every laugh and nails every note – it’s a shame the character of Lauren is so underserved by the story, getting only one solo (The History of Wrong Guys) and a short reprise. The romance between Charlie and Lauren feels very much an afterthought, but Bowman still manages to pack a lot of character into her stage time.
And if you can manage to tear your eyes away from Lola, Charlie and Lauren, you’ll find that every other character on stage oozes personality. Every time Lola’s angels burst onto the stage in a whirl of colour, you can’t help but grin. Rather than being a troupe of interchangeable faces, every one is memorable and an absolute joy to watch.
As for the factory workers, ‘background’ characters have never felt less background, adding depth to the performance without stealing focus. Scott Paige as George, in particular, earns a lot of laughs even while not taking centre stage, while the rest of the ensemble have their own moments to shine.
The show is flashy and fast paced but has real heart, delivering a (sadly all too relevant) message of accepting people as they are, even if you don’t quite understand it yourself. After the closing number, the cast of Kinky Boots receives the quickest and most total standing ovation I’ve ever witnessed in the theatre. And very much deserved.
Kinky Boots the Musical plays at the Theatre Royal Nottingham until Saturday 5 July as part of a nationwide tour
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