Grand Theatre Leeds- until 24th May 2025
Reviewed by Katie Brewerton
5*****
Kinky Boots is back on tour! In Leeds for a sold out run until the end of the week, this fabulous feel-good musical has become a favourite amongst theatre goers in recent years. With music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper, Kinky Boots is a joy and a must see for all fans of theatre.
Based on a true story Kinky Boots follows a failing Northampton shoe factory, inherited by Charlie Price (Dan Partridge). After his father dies Charlie is shocked to find out the state of the factory finances and just how many unsold shoes they have. He moves back from London, leaving his fiancé Nicola (Kara Lily Hayworth) there to work out a plan for the factory. When the final buyer cancels their order he thinks closing down and giving the staff their two weeks notice is the only option. Until he gets a talking to from Lauren, Courtney Bowman who tells him to find a niche market and start producing something else.
After a chance run in with Drag Queen Lola (Strictly Come Dancing’s Johannes Radebe) Charlie thinks he may have found the answer! Manufacturing high heeled ladies boots for men. With Lola’s help they aim to get to Milan to showcase their stiletto heels which can hold the weight of a man. Both Lola and Charlie battle with not living up to their fathers expectations and Lola must deal with judgement and prejudice from those around her.
Lola and her fellow drag queens soon win over the majority of the Northampton work force and together they create a range of Lola’s Kinky Boots.
The cast are wonderful with the drag queens particularly born performers with fabulous skills. Partridge and Radebe had great chemistry and their friendship as Charlie and Lola was pure and a joy to see.
The physical comedy sprinkled in was great and I recommend keep an eye on the actions on the background characters as well as the ones the scene is focused on with Lauren’s realisation of feelings for Charlie a highlight.
The music is joyous and upbeat and you’re sure to be singing to yourself on the way home. With hits such as ‘The Sex is in the Heel’, ‘What a Woman Wants’ and the heart wrenching ‘I’m not my Father’s Son’.
Full of glitz and glamour and flying the flag for Pride this is a truly fantastic show which had the whole audience up on their feet and clapping along at the end.