The West End revival of Kinky Boots has slipped back into the spotlight, this time staged at the London Coliseum. Originating from a version that began at Curve, Leicester, the production is a larger-scale reimagining of the Tony-winning musical inspired by the true story of a Northampton shoe factory. Audiences familiar with the original Broadway staging will notice differences: this reboot favours a distinctly British sensibility and places major emphasis on spectacle and star presence rather than the razor-sharp polish of its predecessor.
At its heart the show still trades on a simple, irresistible premise — a failing factory reinvents itself by making boots for performers and a flamboyant drag queen helps transform both product and people. The revival keeps the musical’s core message of acceptance and individuality intact and wraps it in vivid costumes, athletic choreography and big-voiced pop songs by Cyndi Lauper. Even when the storytelling sacrifices some emotional depth, the production’s charm and visual joy make it an enjoyable night at the theatre.
Leads and performances
Johannes Radebe as Lola
Johannes Radebe inhabits Lola with commanding physicality and magnetic stage presence. Known to many from television dance competitions, Radebe brings a statuesque charisma to the role, delivering the character’s sass, tenderness and bravado through movement as much as through speech or song. His costumes—created by Robert Jones and Tom Rogers with wigs and make-up by Campbell Young Associates—are showstoppers, and the choreography by Leah Hill is tailored to showcase his strengths. While Radebe’s background is not primarily as a singer or screen-trained actor, his star quality creates electric moments that lift the audience and provide a central dynamism for the revival.
Matt Cardle and supporting cast
Matt Cardle plays Charlie Price with warm, expressive vocals, especially effective in numbers such as “Soul of a Man,” where his voice fills the Coliseum’s substantial house with clarity and emotion. Courtney Bowman’s Lauren is a scene-stealer: lively, funny and vocally assured, she earns genuine laughs and applause. The ensemble contributes fine comic and dramatic support—Scott Paige’s foreman is memorably funny and Rachel Izen, Billy Roberts and others round out the factory floor with personality. The revival also lists Tosh Wanogho-Maud as an alternate Lola, ensuring a strong rotation for the part.
Design, choreography and company
The production’s visual choices are one of its greatest delights. Robert Jones’s set fills the Coliseum’s cavernous stage and creates an industrial world that can flip into nightclub glamour within seconds. Leah Hill’s choreography injects pace and athleticism: the factory sequences snap with ensemble precision while the drag performances explode with theatricality. The Angels—the backing performers who energise Lola’s acts—deliver athletic routines that add much of the show’s fizz. Ben Cracknell’s lighting frequently dazzles, shifting from gritty daytime realism to neon-lit nightlife with stylish immediacy.
Costume and hair design play leading roles too; the boots themselves become a visual payoff at the finale and draw some of the loudest cheers. The production’s aesthetic choices demonstrate a clear intention to favour spectacle and character-driven moments, a strategy that mostly succeeds in keeping the evening lively and crowd-pleasing.
Storytelling, sound and overall balance
Despite its pleasures, the revival isn’t without flaws. The book by Harvey Fierstein still contains a puzzling tonal shift in the relationship between Charlie and Lola that can feel awkwardly abrupt; this production does little to patch that structural hiccup. At times the narrative moves briskly past backstory beats that previously added emotional resonance, leaving a few scenes to feel surface-level rather than deeply affecting.
More frustrating for some audience members is the sound. The orchestration, arranged to pop-infused theatrical specifications, sometimes comes through as thin or tinny in the Coliseum acoustic, and lyrics and dialogue can be difficult to discern. That muddiness blunts a few of Lauper’s most clever lines and robs several numbers of their full impact. Where sound clarity succeeds, however, the combination of lively arrangements and robust singing makes the musical infectious.
Final thoughts
Ultimately, this revival of Kinky Boots trades some of the original’s precision for a looser, more star-driven energy. It is a show that will especially satisfy audiences who come to witness Johannes Radebe’s magnetic portrayal, enjoy Matt Cardle’s vocal strengths and revel in flamboyant design and choreography. While sound problems and a occasionally rushed narrative limit the production’s emotional reach, its central message of acceptance endures and the evening rewards those seeking big-hearted entertainment and high-glitz theatre.
Where to find tickets
Listings and ticket information for this revival are available through the Coliseum’s official channels and box office. For many the promise of glittering boots, bold performances and an uplifting finale will make the trip to the West End well worth it.