If you’re looking for a high energy, laugh out loud, makes you feel so good you strut home with a smile on your face musical, then ladies, gentleman and those who have not yet made up their minds…. look no further than the UK tour of Kinky Boots.

After 3 glittering years on the West End, over 1,400 performances and having performed to more than 1.4 million people, Kinky Boots waved goodbye to the Adelphi Theatre in London and said hello to a life on the road.  With an entourage of high heels, sequins and more glitz than an entire season of Ru Paul’s Drag Race, the Kinky Boots UK Tour is spreading it’s uplifting message of acceptance to audiences up and down the UK.

Based on the 2005 film of the same name, Kinky Boots was adapted for stage in 2013 and tells the true story of Charlie Price (Joel Harper-Jackson) who, after escaping his hometown of Northampton for the bright lights of London finds himself returning to manage the loss-making family shoe factory following the death of his father.   With orders being returned and the sales of brogues down,  it looks like Price & Sons and its workers are facing closure, that is until Charlie forms an unlikely partnership with the Lola (Kayi Ushe), a faaaabulous drag queen, and a plan to keep his 3 generation family business becoming a swanky apartment block.  Spotting a niche in the market, Charlie & Lola develop a plan to produce quality glitzy, sturdy skyscraper stilettos for drag queens that must. be. red.  In the process, Charlie and larger than life Lola discover that they are not so different after all.

“If we could just accept each other for who we are, the world would be a beautiful place.  And you know what?  That’s also the message of Kinky Boots.” – CYNDI LAUPER

Not convinced?  Here’s 5 reasons why you should absolutely book tickets to see Kinky Boots and make your Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday feel like the most fabulous Friday night.

(QUEEN) Cyndi Lauper Wrote The Music

You heard right.  Kinky Boots was Cyndi Lauper’s debut as a musical songwriter and her work on Kinky Boots bagged her a Tony Award for back in 2013 and I’m not surprised.  The songs in the show are catchy show numbers but surprisingly, aren’t all high energy dance numbers. There’s some that are find-yourself-giggling-in-your-seat funny, some that make you want to get up and dance and some that are just so beautifully written and performed that you’d be forgiven for shedding a tear.  Soul of a Man and Hold Me in Your Heart are particular favourites (better believe I got them on Spotify already).

The Lead Characters are IMMENSE

Kayi Ushe and Joel Harper-Jackson form an unlikely bromance as the Six Foot and Sexy, Lola and small-town, unsure of himself Charlie, but the two delivered outstanding performances in their own right but the chemistry between the two on stage was wonderful to watch, especially during the number Not My Fathers Son.  Joel Harper-Jackson as Charlie was such a great addition to the cast, his delivery was strong and vocals were on point (and I’m not just being biased cos he’s a fellow Stokie, I promise).

The Costumes are Incredible

The shows about shoes but nobody mentioned the kinky costumes.  If you love a fully glam show then the costume department of Kinky Boots have fully out done themselves, down to every last rhinestone.  With Lola and her Angels being the best dressed babes in Northampton, I’d love to lose myself in the sparkles, bedazzled dresses, diamonds and thigh high boots backstage.

…& the Staging is Creative

There were a couple of times during the show where the simple backdrop of the Price & Sons really came into its own to deliver really fun, high energy and innovative musical numbers.  The multiple production lines/travelators used during Everybody Say Yeah and how the set transforms into a boxing ring for In This Corner were real stand out moments, along with the introduction to the Land of Lola.

It’s As Endearing As It Is Sassy

Yep, the show is packed full of sass, wit and its laugh a minute, but that doesn’t mean that it lacks that theatrical magic gets you right in the feels.  From its central message of  accepting others, the complex relationships between Charlie/Lola and their fathers and even the development of Don as a character, the show definitely gives you the heartwarming glow that can’t fail to put a smile on your face.

Kinky Boots will be at the Regent Theatre in Stoke until Saturday 9th February.  Tickets are available online or via the box office.