REVIEW: Kinky Boots the Musical at Newcastle Theatre Royal

Kinky Boots the Musical

Theatre Royal Newcastle

Until Saturday 10 May 2025

This crowd-pleasing, Tony-winning musical has been revived by The Curve,

Leicester as a vehicle for Strictly Come Dancing icon, Johannes Radebe. Justly

celebrated as a charismatic and technically dazzling dancer, Johannes now

shows, alongside the rest of this excellent cast, that he can also deliver as a

singer and actor.

Though seemingly the most English of musicals, detailing the struggles of a

Northampton shoe factory to reinvent themselves as makers of boots for drag

queens and cross-dressers, Kinky Boots actually originated in the US, with

songs by 80s pop legend Cyndi Lauper and book by Broadway veteran, Harvey

Fierstein. Lauper even took the 2013 Tony award for best score, something no

woman alone had ever achieved before. The central role of Lola was created

by the estimable Billy Porter, something of an icon himself.

Known as a tough role to cast and to play, it seemed brave of director Nikolai

Foster to take a chance on a dancer with no track record of singing or acting.

We have referred to the casting of celebrities to sell tickets before now on

North East Theatre Guide and not always favourably. Whilst recognising the

financial imperative to put ‘bums on seats’, it is always a shame when the

‘name’ can’t deliver the goods. On this occasion, at least, that is not a concern.

Glowing with star quality and looking as glamorous as anyone could hope,

Johannes also brings a tuneful voice, a heartfelt delivery and a relatable,

fleshed-out characterisation to meet the challenge. It need hardly be said that

he also dances with his customary panache.

Whilst Lola draws the spotlight, the engine of the show could be said to be

Charlie, the struggling factory owner who puts everything on the line to save

his factory. This role is hugely vocally demanding, needing a powerful rock

tenor with an extensive range. Dan Partridge, with his tousled hair and rugged

charm, delivers everything an audience could want, both musically and

dramatically. Among many knockout numbers, I’m Not My Father’s Son, the

heartrending duet between Lola and Charlie at the end of Act one, admirably

showcases both performers’ skill and sincerity, and underlines the engaging

dynamic between the two characters which is the true heart of the show.

Courtney Bowman is funny and likeable as Lauren, the factory hand who falls

for Charlie, and her powerful voice gives full value to the richly comic number,

The History Of Wrong Guys. Local theatre legend, Joe Caffrey, gives a

convincing portrayal of the chauvinistic and homophobic factory hand, Don,

and Scott Paige brings lots of laughs as factory foreman George, gradually

finding his own kinky side. This production makes a lot of the two lead

characters’ younger selves and Leo Hollingsworth and Jesse Manzi were well

up to the task, the former also showing some of the dance skills he’d used

playing Billy Elliot.

A crew of sassy and joyously diverse, cross-dressing ‘Angels’ contrasted nicely

with the down-to-earth factory crew, all playing their part with great style to

deliver Leah Hill’s terrific choreography. Robert Jones’ solid set and effective

costumes, plus additional costumes by Tom Rogers for Johannes, made the

show look as good as it sounded under Sioned Evans’ musical direction.

This is a memorably heart-warming and joyous production and if there are any

tickets left, I advise you to grab one. If last night’s audience are any guide, you

can be guaranteed a fab-u-lous evening!

Review: Jonathan Cash

Photos: Pamela Raith

Tickets: https://www.theatreroyal.co.uk/whats-on/kinky-boots-2/