Johannes Radebe to make West End debut in 'Kinky Boots'

The Strictly Come Dancing professional reprises the role, having starred as Lola as part of the UK and Ireland tour since January 2025.

Johannes Radebe will make his West End debut as Lola in a new production of Kinky Boots, which opens at London Coliseum from 17 March through 11 July 2026.

The Strictly Come Dancing professional reprises the role, having starred as Lola as part of the UK and Ireland tour since January 2025.

Directed by Curve Theatre’s Artistic Director Nikolai Foster (My Fair Lady, A Chorus Line, Billy Elliot), Kinky Boots follows Charlie Price as he inherits his family’s failing shoe factory. But with the help of larger-than-life drag queen Lola, perhaps they can find a way to save the company. Kinky Boots features a book by Harvey Fierstein and a score by Cyndi Lauper.

Radebe said: "I left my township in Zamdela at the age of 21 to dance in the ensemble on a cruise ship. Every night we did ABBA. That was my dream come true. Never then, nor since then, was it in my wildest dreams that I would have the opportunity to star in a musical in London’s West End. And not just any musical - my favourite musical. Kinky Boots. My involvement in Kinky Boots has been six years in the making, and Lola was the only role I ever wanted to play. Harvey Fierstein and Cyndi Lauper have written a show about accepting people for who they are, and the love our production has received across the UK has been overwhelming, beautiful and life changing.

"The theatre community has welcomed me, and I am having the time of my life. It is the greatest honour and responsibility to bring this show to the world famous, iconic London Coliseum. I’ll be walking in the footsteps of theatre and entertainment giants who have performed on that stage, and I’ll be doing it in my own sequined pair of red leather Kinky Boots. I cannot wait! Thank you and see you next year.

Fierstein said: "Just knowing that Kinky Boots is returning to its birthplace gives me goosebumps! Since launching this show I’ve seen dozens of performances in multiple iterations spread its magical joy to hundreds of thousands of theater goers and the anticipation of this new production has me hanging from the edge of my seat. I can’t wait!"

Lauper said: "I’m so thrilled that Kinky Boots is returning home to London! When audiences leave the show, they feel happy and uplifted, and that’s something the world could really use right now. It’s so wonderful that this musical keeps bringing joy and acceptance to people around the world."

The rest of the creative team includes choreography by Leah Hill, set and costume design by Robert Jones, Lola and the Angels’ costume design by Tom Rogers, musical supervision by George Dyer, lighting design by Ben Cracknell, sound design by Adam Fisher, and wigs, hair and make-up design by Campbell Young Associates.

Check back for Kinky Boots tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Photo credit: Johannes Radebe in London. (Photo by Charlie Flint)