Kinky Boots on tour: (clockwise) Callum Francis (Lola), Kayi Ushe (Lola), Joel Harper-Jackson (Charlie) and Paula Lane (Lauren). Pictures: Darren Bell and Helen Maybanks
Casting has been announced for the eagerly-anticipated UK tour of the multi-award-winning musical Kinky Boots which is due to launch in September.
The role of Lola will initially (until 15 December) be played by Callum Francis (Miss Saigon, Ghost) following on from his award-winning performance as Lola in the recent Australian tour. From 17 December Kayi Ushe (Avenue Q UK tour, Motown The Musical, Shaftesbury Theatre) will take on the pivotal role for the first time.
Joel Harper-Jackson (Myth: The Rise and Fall of Orpheus, The Other Palace, Jesus Christ Superstar, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) will co-star as Charlie Price with former Coronation Street favourite Paula Lane (Be More Martin, Southwark Playhouse) playing Lauren.
Also joining the Kinky Boots tour will be Demitri Lampra (Don), Adam Price (George) and Helen Ternent (Nicola) who will be accompanied by Charlie Allen, Nicola Avino, Lizzie Bea, Joshua St Clair, Connor Collins, Daniel Conway, Shaun Dalton, John Dempsey, Niki Evans, Mary Fox, Scarlet Gabriel, Damon Gould, George Grayson, Portia Harry, Joshua Lovell, Jacob McIntosh, Chileshe Mondelle, Alfie Parker, Fred Smiley, Toyan Thomas-Browne, Andy Watkins and Jason Winter.
The show which has banked every major best musical award will hit the road from 19 September, opening at the Royal & Derngate in Northampton where it will run until 6 October.
Other confirmed dates include: Wolverhampton Grand Theatre (16-27 October); Newcastle Theatre Royal (29 October-10 November); Manchester Opera House (12 November-1 December); Edinburgh Playhouse (10 December-5 January 2019); Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury (14-26 January); Regent Theatre, Stoke-on Trent (28 January-9 February); Bristol Hippodrome (25 February-9 March); Birmingham Hippodrome (11-23 March); Liverpool Empire (25 March-6 April); Leeds Grand Theatre (8 April-20 April); His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen (23 April-4 May); Kings Theatre Glasgow (6-18 May) Theatre Royal Nottingham (27 May-8 June); Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield (10- 22 June); Sunderland Empire (24 June-6 July); Theatre Royal, Plymouth (8 July-20 July); Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff (22 July- 3 August); and Mayflower Theatre, Southampton (3-14 September).
An instant favourite with theatregoers, the exuberant show’s impressive awards haul includes three Oliviers (Best New Musical, Best Costume Design and Best Actor in a Musical for Matt Henry who originally played Lola), the London Evening Standard BBC Radio 2 Audience Award for Best Musical and the WhatsOnStage Award (Best New Musical Best Actor in a Musical and Best Choreography). The show also picked up six Tony Awards in the US.
With a book by Broadway legend and four-time Tony Award-winner Harvey Fierstein (La Cage Aux Folles), and songs by Grammy and Tony winning pop icon Cyndi Lauper, the production is directed and choreographed by double Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell.
Commenting on the tour earlier this year, composer and lyricist, Lauper said: “It has been a wonderful adventure and a privilege for me, to play a part in creating Kinky Boots. Everyone can relate to this universal story, and I am overwhelmed that people in the UK have embraced it with open arms. I am thrilled that this fabulous show will be touring the country!”
Book writer Fierstein commented: “The inspiring story of Kinky Boots will soon complete its full circle journey from Northampton to the silver screen to Broadway and London and now, at last, back home to Northampton as it embarks on a national UK tour. How often does that happen? It’s been an absolute thrill to witness the giant heart of our show raise audiences up out of their seats in clamorous joy night after night in the West End and I am now so glad to experience its homecoming.”
Director and choreographer, Jerry Mitchell added: “I am delighted to see this big-spirited musical going on tour. Kinky Boots is very close to my heart, and I am really looking forward to taking this British musical all over the UK.”
Kinky Boots is produced by Daryl Roth and Hal Luftig and Playful Productions, in association with Cameron Mackintosh.
Angela Thomas
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