Kinky Boots

As a full on Strictly fan, I was excited to visit Birmingham Hippodrome to see Johannes Radebe’s turn as Lola in Kinky Boots. To give you an idea of how excited I was, it even didn’t manage to overshadow me missing the Villa v PSG heroics.

Fans of the 2005 film can rest easy as the stage show is not only faithful to the film but also lives up to the same standards.

We all know that ‘Jo-Jo’ has superstar qualities, but I was interested to see what his acting was like too. A Craig Revel Horwood style ‘Fab-u-lous’ is the answer – with excellent comic timing and real pathos to his performance, he wasn’t just a dancer filling in with a ‘telephoned in’ acting add on, he was genuinely a likeable actor.

An unexpected bonus was his singing voice as he could carry a tune and did justice to the score by Cyndi Lauper. I suppose the only thing which hampers the songs slightly is them not being very well known. That’s not to say that they’re not good songs and they’re not performed really well but I’m not sure there are any ear worms in there.

She remains however the perfect choice to provide the musical bedrock for the show – given her decades long support for LGBTQ+ rights and the funds and foundations she co-founded and supports.

Johannes’s chemistry with Dan Partridge, playing Charlie, is excellent and they bounce off each other nicely. As for the rest of cast, it’s a really great ensemble piece. Lola’s drag queens are a hoot whilst love interest Courtney Bowman showcases both brilliant comic timing and a top drawer singing voice as Lauren.

Scott Paige turns in a scene stealing performance as George and any Byker Grove aficionados in the audience may recognise Joe Caffrey (Paul Skerrit in BG) who played Don. It’s Don’s personal journey, along with Charlies, that really hits home with the audience – namely accepting people for who they are.

Dan Partridge as Charlie Price and Kara Lily Hayworth as Nicola. Picture: Johan Persson

Director Nikolai Foster, also Artistic Director at Curve, Leicester has brought together a really solid production. Leah Hill does an excellent job as Choreographer – allowing Johanne’s to really show his dancing prowess but never making it look shoehorned in or like it was throwing shade over other members of the cast. Robert Jones does a fabulous job as set and costume designer. The sets are incredibly clever with brilliant transitions between scenes whilst the costumes are suitably bawdy and fun. It is no surprise that additional costumes were provided for Johannes

via Tom Rogers, as his costumes were mind bogglingly good – just as Lola deserves.

Special mention should go to wigs, hair and makeup which were provided by the Campbell Young Associates. (www.cyassocs.com for more information). They did a fantastic job and it was a lovely touch for the cast to bring them on at the end to get the applause and recognition which they richly deserved.

Overall this is just a really fun show which proudly wears it’s heart on its sleeve and challenges everyone else to do the same. The finale ‘just be’ is perhaps the most joyous finale I’ve ever seen in a theatre, full of love and acceptance and possibility. The standing ovation was merited.

The run is on until Saturday 19th and tickets cost as little as £26. Many of the shows are sold out so best to call the Hippodrome on 0121 689 3000 for best available remaining seats or returns. Alternatively you can visit Kinky Boots – Birmingham Hippodrome. There are accessible performances with BSL Interpreted:Wed 16 Apr, 7.30pm, Captioned: Thu 17 Apr, 7.30pm and Audio Described: Sat 19 Apr, 2.30pm.

As we negotiate the often divisive and uncertain world we live in, I can’t help but feel that we need shows like Kinky Boots more than ever. It is a show which has love and inclusivity at its core and you come away feeling better and brighter for having seen it.



Johannes Radebe as Lola. Pictures: Pamela Raith Kinky Boots Birmingham Hippodrome ** As a full on Strictly fan, I was excited to visit Birmingham Hippodrome to see Johannes Radebe’s turn as Lola in Kinky Boots. To give you an idea of how excited I was, it even didn’t manage to overshadow me missing the Villa v PSG heroics. Fans of the 2005 film can rest easy as the stage show is not only faithful to the film but also lives up to the same standards. We all know that ‘Jo-Jo’ has superstar qualities, but I was interested to see what his acting was like too. A Craig Revel Horwood style ‘Fab-u-lous’ is the answer – with excellent comic timing and real pathos to his performance, he wasn’t just a dancer filling in with a ‘telephoned in’ acting add on, he was genuinely a likeable actor. An unexpected bonus was his singing voice as he could carry a tune and did justice to the score by Cyndi Lauper. I suppose the only thing which hampers the songs slightly is them not being very well known. That’s not to say that they’re not good songs and they’re not performed really well but I’m not sure there are any ear worms in there. Johannes Radebe as Lola (centre) with the Angels She remains however the perfect choice to provide the musical bedrock for the show – given her decades long support for LGBTQ+ rights and the funds and foundations she co-founded and supports. Johannes’s chemistry with Dan Partridge, playing Charlie, is excellent and they bounce off each other nicely. As for the rest of cast, it’s a really great ensemble piece. Lola’s drag queens are a hoot whilst love interest Courtney Bowman showcases both brilliant comic timing and a top drawer singing voice as Lauren. Scott Paige turns in a scene stealing performance as George and any Byker Grove aficionados in the audience may recognise Joe Caffrey (Paul Skerrit in BG) who played Don. It’s Don’s personal journey, along with Charlies, that really hits home with the audience – namely accepting people for who they are. Dan Partridge as Charlie Price and Kara Lily Hayworth as Nicola.** Picture: Johan Persson Director Nikolai Foster, also Artistic Director at Curve, Leicester has brought together a really solid production. Leah Hill does an excellent job as Choreographer – allowing Johanne’s to really show his dancing prowess but never making it look shoehorned in or like it was throwing shade over other members of the cast. Robert Jones does a fabulous job as set and costume designer. The sets are incredibly clever with brilliant transitions between scenes whilst the costumes are suitably bawdy and fun. It is no surprise that additional costumes were provided for Johannes via Tom Rogers, as his costumes were mind bogglingly good – just as Lola deserves. Special mention should go to wigs, hair and makeup which were provided by the Campbell Young Associates. (www.cyassocs.com for more information). They did a fantastic job and it was a lovely touch for the cast to bring them on at the end to get the applause and recognition which they richly deserved. Overall this is just a really fun show which proudly wears it’s heart on its sleeve and challenges everyone else to do the same. The finale ‘just be’ is perhaps the most joyous finale I’ve ever seen in a theatre, full of love and acceptance and possibility. The standing ovation was merited. The run is on until Saturday 19th and tickets cost as little as £26. Many of the shows are sold out so best to call the Hippodrome on 0121 689 3000 for best available remaining seats or returns. Alternatively you can visit Kinky Boots – Birmingham Hippodrome. There are accessible performances with BSL Interpreted:Wed 16 Apr, 7.30pm, Captioned: Thu 17 Apr, 7.30pm and Audio Described: Sat 19 Apr, 2.30pm. As we negotiate the often divisive and uncertain world we live in, I can’t help but feel that we need shows like Kinky Boots more than ever. It is a show which has love and inclusivity at its core and you come away feeling better and brighter for having seen it. Theo Clarke 15-04-25
Index page Hippodrome Reviews A-Z Reviews by Theatre Tweet