Notes From Row H

West End theatre review – The London Coliseum

Fresh off a successful UK tour and 7 years since it was last on the West End, Kinky Boots is strutting back on to stage for a limited run at the London Coliseum – from 17^th March until 11^th July 2026. 

Starring Strictly pro Johannes Radebe as Lola and Matt Cardle as Charlie Price, this show has everything that could be wanted from a musical about drag queens and fabulous red boots. Add to that songs written by Cyndi Lauper, a script written by Harvey Fierstein, and direction by Nikolai Foster, and you have a show that is full of fun, heart, and warmth. 

Based on the true story of Steve Pateman and his family’s Northampton shoe factory in the 1990s, Kinky Boots tells the story of Charlie Price and how, in his desperation to save his shoe factory from closure, he turns to the only market that he can think of – high heeled boots for drag queens. His salvation comes in the form of Lola – a drag queen with bright ideas and who, with the help of the other factory workers, help design and make the iconic red boots – with the aim of showing them in Milan. But will they make it there? 

 Along with the bright colours and dazzling costumes, Lola’s presence is met with undercurrents of bigotry and a touch of reluctance – but in the end everyone works together and learns to accept people for who they are. This is such a clear and powerful message that cannot be understated. It also explains why this musical has meant so much to everyone that it touches and continues to be as popular as it is – especially in the current climate where sexuality and gender are so politically charged. 

Johannes Radebe as Lola is a stroke of genius. He brings a fabulous energy to the character and despite not normally being an actor or singer, his performance wows – and his Lola is fierce, powerful, and magnetic. He is also given chances to show off his strong dancing talents too which are, of course, incredible. Matt Cardle as Charlie Price performed well – and was note perfect – especially during ‘Soul of a Man’, which received a well-deserved lengthy applause after the final note. I did find that Radebe did slightly overshadow Cardie at times, and when Lola and Charlie spoke to each other, it did sometimes feel a bit stilted.

The standout performance for me though was Courtney Bowman as Lauren. Her performance of ‘A History of Wrong Guys’ was incredible. Her vocals and comedic timing were perfect – and she had such a tangible warmth to her. Scott Paige too was hilarious as George. His natural comedic timing garnered so many laughs from the audience that it was such a pleasure to watch him. 

All of this would be nothing without Leah Hill’s superb choreography – from Lola’s first entrance on a rising platform to group dances and the Act 2 Finale, the choreography perfectly captures the sentiments of the show. It is complimented by the beautifully designed costumes by Robert Jones (also the set designer) and Tom Rogers. All these elements combine to make Kinky Boots a visually stunning musical – and also help the narrative to become richer. 

This show is an explosion of colour, music, and queer energy, whilst at its heart being a story of acceptance and hope – all of which is becoming increasingly needed in this time we are living in. Despite a couple of incredibly minor issues, this show is a beautiful reminder of what happens when people work together and accept who people are. It has a charming warmth, and people will definitely be falling head over heels with it for years to come. 

Written by Helena Featherstone