Kinky Boots The musical at Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff – review

Thanks to Wales Millennium Centre for providing us with review tickets for Kinky Boots

Kinky Boots The Musical is in Cardiff as part of an all-new UK tour starring Strictly Come Dancing’s Johannes Radebe as drag queen diva Lola. I took my 15 year old daughter to last night’s press performance at Cardiff’s Wales Millennium Centre – I’ve seen it before, but it was new to her.

Read on for the full review to see what we thought.

Kinky Boots The Musical at Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff

Based on the 2005 film, and inspired by true events, Kinky Boots The Musical follows Charlie Price, who reluctantly finds himself running the family shoe-making factory following his father’s sudden death. With the business failing, not to mention his relationship with fiancée Nicola, a chance encounter with fabulous drag queen Lola sparks an idea in Charlie’s head that might just save the factory and turn both their lives around.

It’s an energetic, feel-good, heartfelt stage show about being yourself and celebrating people for who they are, with music by Cyndi Lauper and this new production directed by Nikolai Foster, the acclaimed Artistic Director of Leicester’s renowned Curve Theatre.

Strictly Come Dancing’s Johannes Radebe stars as Lola. Obviously we all know Johannes can dance – and it’s fantastic to see him given so much opportunity to really showcase his moves – but his singing and acting is also absolutely brilliant too, with so much sassiness and confidence as he embodies this brilliant character. In the scenes where he appears as Simon – the person Lola is when not dressed up in drag – Johannes shows so much vulnerability. He’s spoken openly about being bullied for being gay, which could explain why these moments are so powerful. The costumes, wigs and make-up are all exceptional, enhanced by Johannes’ ability to shimmy, twirl, pout or eye roll at exactly the right moment. With such an accomplished performance, it’s hard to believe this is Johannes’ acting debut.

Dan Partridge is Charlie Price, a really likeable character who has his own emotional journey during the show. Some of the most tender scenes come between Dan and Johannes – as their friendship grows and each of them takes on new challenges. Their vocal duet, Not My Father’s Son, about how in following their own paths they each felt they’d disappointed their father and find they have more in common than one might expect, is beautiful, and the scenes in which their childhood selves appear add a new layer of emotion.

Courtney Bowman as Lauren also deserves a mention. The bubbly factory worker with some great business ideas and a crush on her boss, is funny, very likeable and delivers her musical number The History of Wrong Guys with plenty of humour.

We also really liked Joe Caffrey as Don, the narrow-minded factory worker who holds some really cruel and hurtful opinions of Lola but who ultimately changes for the better, and helps the show reach its fabulous climax at a Milan fashion show.

The ensemble fill the stage with musical numbers, from the down-to-earth factory workers to the flamboyant drag queens that make up Lola’s Angels backing dancers and singers.

The age guidance for Kinky Boots the Musical is 10+. Last time I saw it was way back in summer 2019, accompanied by a friend as my children were all too young, so it’s great to be seeing it five and a half years later with my now 15 year old who loved her first experience of it.

Kinky Boots belongs in the same category of British musicals as Billy Elliott, Calendar Girls and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, inspired by real life working class heroes, where prejudice and challenges are overcome, and the seemingly impossible is achieved. It’s the kind of show where you know everything will be okay in the end but the journey to get there has courage and heart – and a cracking soundtrack to boot.

The Cardiff run is almost sold out but if you’re quick you may be able to bag a ticket. Otherwise, it’s touring the UK until the end of the year.

Kinky Boots is at Wales Millennium Centre until Saturday 22 March. Tickets, from £18, are still on sale although availability for some performances is limited. Age guidance 10+, no admittance to under 2s. Running time, approximately 2 hours 40 minutes including interval. Book online here.

Other musicals coming up soon at Wales Millennium Centre worth checking out include Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (15-19 April); Dear Evan Hansen (29 April-3 May); Chicago (5-10 May), Cruel Intentions The Musical (28-31 May); & Juliet (16-28 June)