Kinky Boots UK Tour Review | The Regent Theatre in Stoke
GIFTED
Regular readers will know that I’m a HUGE lover of musicals! Kinky Boots is a show I’ve been meaning to see for a while now so when it started it’s UK Tour I was hoping it would make a stop at The Regent in Stoke so I could finally see what the hype was all about! My friend Naomi saw it down in London and hasn’t stopped raving about it since, so I took her along to press night in Stoke on the promise that she wouldn’t sing along…too loudly…all the way through!
Kinky Boots is based on a true story about a shoe factory in Northampton. With the ‘fast fashion’ market growing by the day, Prince & Son’s inherited owner Charlie struggles to keep his late father’s traditional business running. After a chance meeting with a (rather fabulous) drag performer Lola down in London, Charlie comes up with a glorious plan to help save the factory and it’s workers…
From Lola (played by Kayi Ushe) to the amazing Angels (who were incredibly flexible and looked better in heels than I do!), every character was lovable and you rooted for all. We all know a man like Don, want the confidence (and legs!) of Lola and the courage and determination of Charlie; this show puts them in front of you and lets you take something away from everyone.
The staging was great. With a movable platform spun by the cast throughout, we were transported from the shoe factory, to Lola’s club, to a Milan fashion show seamlessly really capturing the essence of the plays Northampton roots. And the costumes? Well. They were hands down the sparkliest, most fabulous items of clothing I’ve ever seen on stage!
With songs written by Cyndi Lauper, we’re taken on a musical journey – from ballads like Not My Father’s Son to anthems such as Raise You Up – you go from welling up to tapping your feet and right back again! My favourite song has to be Sex Is In The Heel, but Raise You Up was such a brilliant way to end the show!
Kinky Boots is a fab night out, one to leave you clapping all the way home….and googling where you can get yourself a pair of those killer heels!
Kinky Boots is playing at The Regent Theatre in Stoke until Saturday 9th February when it moves to it’s next Tour destination – grab your tickets here!
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