Picture: Charlie Flint
Strictly Come Dancing favourite Johannes Radebe will make his West End debut in a new production of the Olivier, Grammy and Tony Award-winning musical Kinky Boots.
After winning new fans for his performance as Lola in the hit UK and Ireland touring production, Radebe will reprise his performance when the musical plays the London Coliseum for 17 weeks from 17 March to 11 July 2026. The London run will follow preview performances at Curve in Leicester from 3 March 2026.
Looking forward to his West End debut, 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 sequinned pair of red leather Kinky Boots. I cannot wait! Thank you and see you next year.”
An instant favourite with theatregoers, the exuberant show based on the hit Miramax film (written by Geoff Deane and Tim Firth and inspired by a true story) has a book by Broadway legend and quadruple Tony Award-winner Harvey Fierstein (La Cage aux Folles), and songs by Grammy and Tony-winning pop icon Cyndi Lauper.
Commenting on the production’s latest West End run, 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 theatregoers and the anticipation of this new production has me hanging from the edge of my seat. I can’t wait!”
Composer and lyricist Lauper added: “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.”
Directed by Nikolai Foster, the production is choreographed by Leah Hill, with 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, casting by Harry Blumenau and wigs, hair and make-up design by Campbell Young Associates with associate direction by Michaela Powell, associate choreography by Johnny Bishop, associate sound design by Harry Barker and production management by Setting Line.
The original production of Kinky Boots The Musical which was directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell arrived on Broadway in 2013 where it was nominated for a season record 13 Tony Awards, winning six including Best Musical. In the UK, the musical debuted in the West End in 2015 winning three Oliviers including Best New Musical.
Kinky Boots is produced by ROYO, Runaway Entertainment and Curve.
Angela Thomas
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