Theatre Review: Kinky Boots at the Wales Millennium Centre
Photography by Pamela Raith
Summary:
Following the passing of his father, Charlie Price inherits the family’s shoe factory. Unfortunately, the business isn’t doing as well as he had hoped, and he must find a way to save it. Charlie unexpectedly teams up with Lola, a drag queen, to design and produce a line of high-heeled boots in an effort to rescue the small-town factory.
Rating: ★★★★
Running Dates: Tuesday 18th March - Saturday 22nd March 2025
Where to see it: Wales Millennium Centre
Duration: 2 hr 40 min (incl. interval)
Keywords: Joyful, Empowering, Friendship
Review
You can feel the weight of family expectations on both Lola and Charlie’s shoulders. Their unexpected partnership reveals their shared struggles, and their evolving friendship will warm your heart.
Based on a true story, Kinky Boots was originally adapted into a movie before becoming a successful musical. The critically acclaimed Kinky Boots musical has had great success in both Broadway and the West End, and I can understand why! Not only are the performances amazing, but the set design is also incredible.
Kinky Boots strikes the perfect balance between joyful and heartfelt moments. The incredible Courtney Bowman, known for her role as Anne Boleyn in Six, delivers a hilarious solo in ‘The History of Wrong Guys’, perfectly lightening the mood with this delightful story within a story. Meanwhile, Lola (played by Strictly Come Dancing’s Johannes Radebe) faces the struggle of being accepted in a small town. He rises to the occasion, delivering a powerful rendition of ‘Soul of a Man’ shaking up the dynamics of the small-town factory.
Photography by Pamela Raith
You can feel the weight of family expectations on both Lola and Charlie’s shoulders. Their unexpected partnership reveals their shared struggles, and their evolving friendship will warm your heart. This connection becomes even more evident when their childhoods are brought into the picture, showing just how similar they truly are.
From the moment I saw the cast, I knew this show would be exceptional. I've already mentioned Johannes Radebe and Courtney Bowman, but they’re not the only familiar faces you’ll recognize. Charlie is played by Dan Partridge (seen in Grease), and you'll also recognize the talented Scott Paige from The Addams Family and Newton Matthews from Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical.
Standout Moment: Lola's Angels make a dramatic entrance, not only on stage but also in Charlie’s life. 👠
Similar Musicals: Hairspray, La Cage aux Folles.
Last Impressions: Kinky boots give us a feast for our eyes and ears!
You can find last minute tickets for the show on the Wales Millennium Centre website.
We were kindly gifted these tickets in exchange for a review.
Written by Elisa Page Massonnat