Kinky Boots, The Musical, Birmingham Hippodrome, 15 April to 19 April 2025, then on tour, 5☆☆☆☆☆. Review: David Gray & Paul Gray.

Photo Credit: Pamela Raith Photography.

Kinky Boots, The Musical, Birmingham Hippodrome, 15 April to 19 April 2025, then on tour,

5☆☆☆☆☆. Review: David Gray & Paul Gray.

“A simply fabulous revival of an uplifting show.”

The 2005 film, Kinky Boots arrived on the back of a string of gritty but heartwarming, triumphant underdog Britcoms that performed well with the critics and at the box office. However, Kinky Boots did less well; the genre seemed to have run out of steam by this point. In contrast, the musical version of Kinky Boots is a hit on every level.

Dramatist Harvey Fierstein adds some essential elements to beef up the emotional narrative. To start with, the two main characters - factory owner, Charlie and drag queen, Lola/Simon - are given strong backstories involving tensions with their respective fathers. The exploration and mutual resolution of these issues, and the way this brings them together as friends, gives the story its backbone.

Fierstein also accentuates the collision of worlds. Instead of just Lola, the conservative confines of the shoe factory are invaded by a whole troop of drag queens. The subsequent tensions are skilfully exploited and, as a result, the moment when these tensions are resolved and released has a much bigger dramatic impact.

Fierstein’s skill as a storyteller is wonderfully complemented by the lyrics and music of 90s hit machine Cyndi Lauper. Lauper gives as catchy songs that break the music theatre mould, standing on their own two feet musically, but always working in the service of the drama. This is a very well-crafted show.

And the whole cast of this revival clearly relish working with such high-quality material. All the minor characters are well-drawn, well-acted and well-sung.

Leads, Johannes Radebe as Lola, and Dan Partridge as Charlie, have convincing chemistry. They both bring a beguiling vulnerability to their roles. Radebe’s Lola covers this with brash flamboyance, but we are always aware that this is a mask; human fragility is never far from the surface. Partridge gives his character an undercurrent of bubbling nervous energy. The plot piles the emotional and financial pressures on him, so his devastating explosion of defensive anger, which brings the story to its crisis point, is imbued with psychological authenticity.

Vocally the cast is strong, with a powerful, well blended chorus and mostly solid leads. Partridge and Courtney Bowman, as his emerging love interest, Lauren, are both very impressive. Radebe, has clearly been cast for his moves and glamour. He delivers these in abundance. But he is less secure as a singer and, while he manages well enough on the whole, he seems a little underpowered when delivering his big number, Hold me in Your Heart. Tuning suffers as a result.

A quibble. This is a big, warm-hearted show with a massive impact. Its huge, uplifting climax delivers on every level, by resolving the drama with theatricality and flair. The message: that we need to accept people for who they are in all their diversity, is probably more important now that it has been in a good long while.

Cast

Lola – Johannes Radebe

Charlie Price – Dan Partridge

Lauren – Courtney Bowman

Nicola – Kara Lily Hayworth

Don – Joe Caffrey

Creatives

Book – Harvey Fierstein

Music – Cyndi Lauper

Director – Nikolai Foster

Choreographer – Leah Hill

Sets & Costumes – Robert Jones

Musical Supervisor – George Dyer