'Kinky Boots' review — everybody say yeah to the return of this rousing, heart-warming musical

Read our review of Kinky Boots, starring Matt Cardle and Johannes Radebe, now in performances at the London Coliseum to 11 July.

Summary

• Tony-winning musical Kinky Boots returns to the West End
• Harvey Fierstein and Cyndi Lauper's show is running at the London Coliseum
• The X Factor's Matt Cardle plays shoe factory owner Charlie Price
• Strictly Come Dancing favourite Johannes Radebe brings heart and fabulous moves to drag queen Lola

Over a decade since it first appeared in the West End, the six-time Tony-winning screen-to-stage musical Kinky Boots has returned to the capital as the culmination of its new national tour. And it brings with it a couple of Saturday night TV favourites in the form of X Factor winner Matt Cardle and Strictly Come Dancing pro Johannes Radebe.

The former plays Charlie Price, heir to a Northampton shoe factory beset by financial difficulties and in need of new ideas. Cue a chance encounter with Radebe’s gregarious drag queen Lola, and before long the business has pivoted to producing an innovative line of reinforced, man-sized stiletto boots. But can they work through their differences to make it to the Milan fashion show in time? Who knows!

The 2005 film, inspired by the real-life story of shoemaker WJ Brookes, continued a rich tradition of stories of British post-industrial depression being alleviated by creative flair (think The Full Monty, Brassed Off, Billy Elliot et al). Watching it today hits rather differently, with drag queens now decidedly mainstream and stereotypes of gruff northern blokes resisting anything remotely effeminate feeling rather outdated in an era of manscaping and looksmaxxing.

However, it still provides a rollicking good night out and oozes charm from its leather-clad toes to its bewigged hair-do. Harvey Fierstein’s gag-filled book and Cyndi Lauper’s peppy songs still largely stand up, particularly the stand out numbers “Sex is in the Heel”, “Everybody Say Yeah” and the eye-dampening “I’m Not My Father’s Son”, movingly sung by Radebe and Cardle alongside their childhood selves. There’s also some nifty new choreography from Leah Hill that maximises Radebe’s ample dance skills (at one point he pirouettes out of a scene, apparently just because he can).

Nikolai Foster’s production, expansively designed by Robert Jones, sizes up effectively onto the mighty Coliseum stage, even if the ensemble at points feels rather lost on the almost to-scale factory floor. It also has to be said the energy levels take a while to crank up. But the closing number “Raise You Up / Just Be” at the (spoiler alert) fashion show makes for a suitably rousing, boot-stomping finale with more sparkles than an average bonfire night.

In the central roles, Cardle proves predictably strong vocally even if his acting tends towards the melodramatic (notably when Charlie suddenly discovers his inner bigot), and though Radebe can’t quite match him in the singing department he more than compensates with those aforementioned moves and a performance full of integrity and heart. There’s also some strong support including Courtney Bowman as Charlie’s not-so secret admirer Lauren, Scott Paige as lovable factory foreman George, and Billy Roberts as the alpha-with-a-conscience Don (originated in the West End by the much-missed Jamie Baughan).

In short, there’s plenty to enjoy from this latest popular musical to play theatreland's largest venue, which is usually the home of English National Opera. However well-worn those red boots may now be, there’s an undeniably nostalgic enjoyment about slipping into them one more time.

Kinky Boots is at the London Coliseum to 11 July. Book Kinky Boots tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Photo credit: Kinky Boots (Photos by Matt Crockett)