Kinky Boots – New Victoria Theatre, Woking – Saturday 1st February 2025 + Kinky Boots – Southend-on-Sea & Sheffield – Saturdays 7th & 28th June 2025 + Kinky Boots – New Theatre, Oxford – Saturday 26th July 2025

(Rated 5/5) If my memory serves me well – it often doesn’t 😉 – the 2005 film ‘Kinky Boots’ was my first encounter with one of my favourite actors of all time – Chiwetel Ejiofor. I was blown away by his portrayal of drag queen Lola – in playing her (and her alter ego) he expressed his wide acting range all in one role. I’ve never been disappointed by him since. Someone else who has never disappointed, and just like Chiwetel, continues to move me every time I see him, is Strictly dancer Johannes Radebe. In his first celebrity encounter on Strictly – partnered with Catherine Tyldesley – he showed me and all Strictly fans, what a beautifully expressive emotional human he is; capable of incredibly loving, nurturing, holding relationships producing the best from others, and at that stage possessing a wide dancing range from Afrobeats to Ballroom, and much in between. It was in that relationship with Catherine, that she or he, or maybe them both together, had the dream of Jojo on stage as Lola. The perfect role for him!!!

Kinky Boots is based on a true story. The son (Charlie) of a shoe factory owner meets a drag queen (Lola). Charlie’s father dies and the son discovers the factory is not doing well at all. How to save the factory – they need a niche? That niche becomes boots for drag queens with Lola invited to design them. So lovely and moving in itself. But, in this musical version as Johannes explained it’s even more a story of fathers and sons and the potential joys and challenges of those relationships. And, knowing Jojo’s own story and relationship with his father, he lends so much of his own experience and story to Lola.

Another draw to this musical version for me is that Cyndi Lauper wrote the music and lyrics. Within each song there is so much depth and joy or angst and, in some cases, powerful stream of consciousness processing – especially in ‘I’m not my father’s son’ – a duet sung by Lola and Charlie. And my goodness, Jojo has really extended his performance range adding singing and acting – both really coming along a treat. Yet I would have a few miniscule notes for him at this stage if I’m honest: Some fiddling with Lola’s wigs – though maybe that was a choice? His lack of confidence as Lola’s alter ego Simon felt a little 2D somehow, though maybe hard to accept Jojo lacking in confidence! And at one stage he held up a boot covering his face so we couldn’t see the expression he was delivering to a fellow actor. BUT, given he is doing all this from nothing, it’s all just minor and I am certain he will keep shining brighter and get to the point where it all flows completely smoothly and naturally just like his dancing. It’s truly wonderful to witness him enjoying himself under the bright lights. The book is expertly written by Harvey Fierstein and the stunning set and costumes are by Robert Jones. Dan Partridge excellently plays Charlie and we feel solid and safe with him as leading man in this musical. He has clearly thoroughly embraced being Jojo’s training partner when it comes to acting and singing. Courtney Bowman is a wonderfully adorable Lauren. A brilliant cast provides expert support.

Anything Jojo feels personal to me, and so here comes the personal aspects of my experience with this show so far… and I’m certain more will follow. I would have wanted to see it more than once anyway, but through trips to Jojo’s other shows I’ve added friends along the way. This Woking experience happened so I could meet up with one of my new Jojo Pals. Two more are happening as a result of wanting to share with fellow Jojo fan friends! And an extra one in Oxford just because it’s Oxford – I’ll have to encourage someone to come with me! Very early on in planning, I decided I wanted to dress for the occasion. I acquired my own set of ‘Kinky Boots’, and without knowing anything about the costumes for the show, I combined them with a LBD (little black dress), and given it’s winter a black cardigan with red buttons. My idea was the boots need to be the stars of the outfit. Same idea as Robert Jones, who gave the whole cast each their own individual Kinky Boots with all black outfits for the finale, so those red boots shone out above everything else. I received many compliments for mine 😊 That was so much fun. Including one of the two daughters in the family I sat next to. I was several seats down from my friend, but the dad in the family chatted with me at points, and I visited my friend in the interval. She had gone to the opening night, and told me Jojo had seemed very nervous. He now seems to have relaxed more and loving the vibes of it all. Unfortunately, post-show I lost sight of my friend – we’d planned to ‘stage door’ together. I hesitated a little thinking what to do, and chose to go to find the stage door anyway. She wasn’t there, but about twenty people were, so I wasn’t waiting around on my own. A little while later – and still no Jojo – my companion in life arrived so I felt safe and that someone had my back. Silly maybe, but even with someone like Jojo, I feel nerves approaching him, or, at least, I thought I would. Some more waiting… other cast members had already come out and gone. And then dear Jojo appeared – not from out of the stage door, but it seemed from behind the tour bus. He told us his car was waiting. I imagine he’d seen us and being the lovely soul he is came to say ‘Hi’ so we wouldn’t have been waiting in vain. I stood back a bit while others got autographs and selfies, and then he looked to me. I asked if I could give him a hug – yes – so I did, and told him he’d done amazing – he replied ‘I’ve been practising really hard’. Then we kinda said ‘Take care and see you soon’, and I left for others to have their turns. It all felt so completely natural – ‘the way old friends do’ <3 <3

Of course, I am biased, BUT I genuinely couldn’t recommend ‘Kinky Boots’ enough for it’s joyous celebration of difference; its message around acceptance and learning about and from others; it therapy-ness (sorry just invented that as I can’t think of another word that fits); its fun; its laughter; its poignancy; its depth of exploration of relationships especially fathers and sons, but also around what women want and women’s relationships with women of all varieties; its music; its lyrics; its colour combatting and yet also amongst dark or greyness; its world; and its humans within that world.

Get on your own ‘Kinky Boots’, Let the Kinky Boots Team 'Raise You Up' and Go Be Fabulous!!!

And I wanted to add a word about Southend and Sheffield ‘Kinky Boots’… Seeing this show as many times as I am doing very much has to do with Jojo himself. But perhaps not for the obvious reason. Woking was so I could meet up with one of my Jojo-friends. Southend too – we became friends all because of my ‘I Dance To My Own Tune’ Freedom Tour bag and this now friend seeing me with it on a Central Line tube! We’ve since met up for Jojo’s book launch and a tribute show to Robin Windsor. And then on 7th June we enjoyed ‘Kinky Boots’ with Jola together. We loved it, and I definitely saw an improved performance from Jojo. And then even more so in Sheffield on 28th June with a friend of 26 years. He has been increasingly relaxed and shining more and more each time from an increasingly liberated performance, adding new touches each time too. In the interval I met face-to-face with arguably Jojo’s most dedicated fan – I think she has been to more of his shows than anyone else and is mentioned in his autobiography! Lovely lady with whom I’ve been pals on social media. Johannes Joy has to be shared and brings people together! The celebration at the end in Sheffield felt even more Joyous. I’ve worn my own sparkly RED Kinky Boots each time and my Sheffield friend and I wore hers and hers sequined RED scarves too. Cheering everyone at the stage door in Sheffield was enormous fun as well. Though, I’m so glad I got a few moments with Jojo in Woking, as he didn’t appear at the other stage doors. Oddly my Kinky Boots felt increasingly uncomfortable each show! Well, as Lola says they are not supposed to be comfortable lol!

And now another word to add about Oxford ‘Kinky Boots’ and Newtion Matthews as Lola. It feels like such a happy accident that I got to see the ‘alternate’ Lola. Oxford was my first booking, and I somehow missed the sign that flashed up saying Johannes Radebe would not be appearing, and thought I’d done extremely well getting front row stalls right up next to the stage! But how refreshing to witness someone else inhabiting Lola and seeing the impact of that on the production as a whole. Newtion plays more of a cheeky Lola. He is clearly performing arts trained in a way that Jojo is not – ‘just’ training as a dancer and then getting up to speed with singing and acting classes in the last couple of years. Newtion’s acting is better and more natural than Jojo’s. But Jojo – as I guess he should wins in terms of the dancing – his skills in movement and dance are exquisite and of course he also has the dancer’s poise. Jojo produces such amazing expressions on his face when he dances, and I was amused to see what felt like Newtion trying to copy those a little in some numbers. Newtion is a smaller man. As such he doesn’t have the physical presence of Jojo, and I guess there is also an ‘other’ presence, which is difficult to explain, but feels like a kind of star quality in Jojo. Put simply he shines so bright – he is sunshine. Newtion seems to have to do more work to make his presence felt, but it really is an adorable, lovely, fun and when needed melancholy presence – he has the lights and shades of emotion. He is more of a tease with Dan’s Charlie, whilst Jojo seems to hold back a little as Lola in that department coming across as more intense. Newtion also feels a little less warm towards Courtney’s Lauren than Jojo. But Newtion has an incredibly beautiful voice with a power stronger than his frame. As I’ve said before Jojo’s is ever improving and is so lovely. As Lola they both start and end the show in different sizes of the same outfit. But in between they are given different outfits. That works better for sure. One couldn’t carry the other’s with the same impact required for what each costume is expressing. Newtion did seem less bothered by the longest wig Lola wears too. But, my goodness, Jojo looks beautiful with a long wig! They both had their individual nuances and touches for Lola and her alter ego Simon and bravo to both!!

Oxford required a fait bit of walking - as we did some sightseeing even in the rain when we first got off the bus - so I did not wear my Kinky Boots, but instead a RED jumpsuit 😊 Lola loves RED and isn’t that all that matters?! 😉

I’ve already mentioned how Jojo lends his own life experience with his father to the show. (See also his autobiography ‘Finally Home’, which also speaks to the ideas in the song ‘Hold Me In Your Heart’ from Kinky Boots around wanting to be a family member even when your family does not appreciate what you are offering from a place of love.) Jojo is very close to his mother – and amusingly I’d say the vast majority of Jojo’s fans are women his mother’s age! Newtion describes himself as a “Mummy’s Boy”, and talks about how the songs which he loves most in the show relate to fatherhood and family. “I love my family, but they don’t really love my queerness”. In that sense, as Jojo also describes playing Lola is therapy! Newtion again, “We are all in a process of unlearning from childhood. I grew up super-religious and I still find those rhetorics coming up in certain places in this masculine world. And when those ideologies come forward, I have to remind myself that some of the most fabulously strong women have really masculine tendencies, and some of the most fabulous men have really feminine qualities. Now, you blend that all up in a gorgeous Lola Palooza. Well, that’s what Kinky Boots is about.”

KinkyBoots – Review by TheRestrictedReviewer © 2025

Johannes Radebe: House of Jojo – New Theatre, Oxford – Saturday 30th March 2024, Sheffield City Hall – Saturday 27th April 2024, The London Palladium – Saturday 4th May 2024 & Cliff’s Pavilion, Southend – Saturday 11th May 2024

(Rated 4/5 or in Strictly Language 8/10) As Johannes Radebe’s Star has risen – and oh my goodness has it risen so gloriously, that he genuinely has become the brightest sunshine in human form for ever so many people, and arguably the sparkliest and best pro dancer on the Strictly ballroom floor – I have felt gradually more disconnected with him. I hasten to qualify that immediately - it’s not remotely that he is any less glowing with humanity, compassion, empathy and pure joy - but he feels more out of reach, less accessible, and that somehow less has to be more, when I/we actually want more and more.

‘The House of Jojo’ is an absolutely superb show – all stunningly flawless and polished – yes, he has really done up his House from the highly colourful rough corrugated iron sets from ‘Freedom’ and ‘Freedom Unleashed’ - and with dancing and singing of exceptionally high quality – all the more impressive as Jojo selects new performers to help them make their marks on the theatrical scene – the show itself definitely does merit a very full 10. Ideas for themes, choreography and music selection are all by Jojo too, so they really are ‘Dancing and Singing to His Tunes’. Jojo appears in ever more flamboyant costumes, yet with more costumes, comes less dancing from HIM. The Kids of the House of Jojo do the lion’s share, and either they, or his singers – and again, yes, they are all wonderful – entertain us making time for ‘Mamma’ to extricate himself from one dazzlingly impressive outfit and climb into another – before entering amongst his performers for sometimes what feels like just a few seconds. In fact, one of my favourite parts of the show is Jojo, alone on stage, dancing along all too briefly to ‘What A Feeling’ from ‘Flashdance’. Another when all he is wearing is a loincloth – stripped of all the glorious outfits – and yes he does have a very fit body, but that’s not the reason – it is because, exactly as he notes himself – he is kind of derobed of the trappings of fame – and is there true, raw, arguably vulnerable and so honest. And, that is how so many of us have grown to love him. BUT, I also completely get, how much he personally loves those sensational outfits and stiletto-heeled-red ‘Kinky Boots’ and yes, I’m thrilled for him that he is going to be playing Lola in the touring musical version next year – Chiwetel Ejiofor’s part in the film – and of course, absolutely, I’m right there!

So, I’m having a mini-moan, but only because, Dearest Jojo, yes you did pitch this show as less about you, but I simply can’t get enough of you!!!! So much so, that I went four times (though that is minimal compared to some other of your fabulous fans 😉) First visit: Oxford on my Mum’s Birthday, so that she could dance from Heaven with me and Dad and Johannes Radebe, as Dad and ‘I Danced in Heaven (nightclub) with Johannes Radebe’ – hey that would look good on a T-shirt all sparkly – Oh, yes, it does 😉 – really Fab-u-lous party for you Mum!! Jojo made a point of thanking those who had been with him from the beginning and said ‘I see you’ <3 😊!!! Second visit in Sheffield, which happened to be on Jojo’s birthday and we all sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to him 😊. This visit’s companion and I waited at the stage door for Jojo – much later turned out he had already left via another exit, maybe even the main one – but we did get to see his singers and dancers come out and I shouted well done to the beautiful Lowri Evans – his dance captain, who later sent me love and appreciation for doing that 😉! Then, the London Palladium – had to do it to see Jojo reunited and dancing – just as he had promised long after their Strictly journey ended - with the gorgeous Annabel Croft – was such a superbly special few minutes. (Jojo talked about having FOMO when Graziano got to dance with her on the Strictly tour.) And, having her appear alongside Jojo and cast at the curtain call also just so lovely. Annabel also responding (on social media afterwards) with love and appreciation of the warmth of the greeting she was given. They truly are fabulously firm friends for ‘the life’. Last, but not least, as aside from the London Palladium was the most emotional I saw Jojo, Southend – Jojo explained to us how he had ‘driven into the sunshine’ on his approach to the new city. As with all his shows, Jojo spoke to the audience about all sorts – will do Strictly as long as his bones allow and then will take Craig’s job (joking apparently haha), how there is a beautiful theatre culture in this country and by attending we are keeping him and his cast all employed, how he now has his British citizenship, though he is sure we wouldn’t be able to answer many of the questions right from the stone age 😉!, how he dances in his new home in his kitchen to music from his motherland, how he wants to bring joy and help everyone escape from the awful news and bring some healing to the world in his way, how his Mamma would be in the front row at The London Palladium – then when she couldn’t get her visa instead in Liverpool – though maybe he could Facetime her, how he’s working on the film of his book, now going to be doing ‘Kinky Boots’, asked the house lights to go up so he could see us in all our sparkles and thank us, have the prosecco and popcorn ready as he takes us to the movies showing us the parts he’d like to play, and about being free to be himself and how we have given him that in spades and shining loud and proud. And ever so much more than isn’t coming to mind just now, so I may end up editing more in…

I’m next going to write on show content (as it serves to help me feel back ‘there’ – at Jojo’s House Party in years to come), so if you do not want to know here is your SPOILER ALERT: The lights on the House of Jojo flash as we hear clips around the rise of Jojo’s Star. Jojo - in voiceover – welcomes ‘Ladies and Gentlemen and My Beautiful Friends Beyond the Binary’, then introducing ‘The Kids of the House of Jojo’, who come on dancing to ‘Fame’ and ‘Sweet Dreams’. Jojo enters last, of course, in a fabulous black leather skirted outfit, which is gradually removed to leave him standing in just a brown loincloth as we him his voiceover again, ‘Here I stand before you, stripped of the garments of fame…’; two of his dancers bring on tambourine shoe things for him (sorry, can’t think how else to describe them!), his fellow dancers all return also in tambourine shoes and all dance together – terrible description of a wonderful dance haha! Jojo talks about the awful state of the world and how he wants to give us some joy for a couple of hours as he presents his ‘Heal the World’ section – just so beautiful – everyone dancing in grey flowing skirts, which become capes, and then reverse to message ‘MAKE A(Jojo) CHANGE’. This then followed by a kind of ‘Bringing the Sunshine’ dance with yellow/orange outfits and scarfs – I absolutely adored how this looked on stage. Brain fog is not allowing me to recall how part 2 started. But, somewhere there was a jazz/swing section with everyone in black top hat and tails, then Jojo in red top hat and tails, looking stunning. There were some beautiful dance interactions involving partner swaps, especially the lovely Lowri, who was also at some stage lifted by either Kofi Aidoo-Appiah or Ebby Sama in an amazingly skilled hold – back in the day Jojo would have been doing that himself!! Just one of Jojo’s Strictly partners was honoured with one section devoted solely to her, with Jojo explaining in voice-over how he had had a difficult year of highs and lows, but had met his incredible special soul-mate Miss Annabel Croft – and in essence they saved each other. At the Palladium, Annabel appeared as herself to be greeted with rapturous applause. As she danced with Jojo, with other dancers backing them, we were taken into a very special place, being able to witness their beautiful, exceptional bond. At other venues, lovely Lowri represented Annabel.

A big shout out to Lovely Lowri – Jojo’s Dance Captain and such a delightful dancer, whom he found to be his partner in his solo shows, standing and dancing by his side for three straight years now. All other performers for each show were ‘new’, being given a boost, by the man who always puts others before himself. Other newbie-dancers – not already mentioned – Ann C. Beck, Shali Bordoni, Kieran Curtin, Jack Dargan, Erica Martinelli, Charles Tatman and Elle Taylor.

As noted above, instead of taking us to the musicals as he did in ‘Unleashed’, Jojo took us to the movies this show. This trip started with ‘Goldeneye’ (with no Jojo, but would he like to play James Bond, or a Bond Girl?!), then ‘Le Jazz Hot’ with Jojo miming to ‘Victor/Victoria’ aka Julie Andrews, as he danced with - and was lifted by, Kofi and Ebby – those three dancing together such a tremendous sight. ‘Pure Imagination’ was beautifully sung, while we can imagine everyone else changing backstage; in Oxford by Dalton Harris, whilst everywhere else, where I attended, Paige Peddie. The other sensational singer was Anthonia Edwards. Following on, if memory serves, ‘She’s a Maniac’ - with all dancers in 80s dancercise outfits - from ‘Flashdance’ led into ‘What A feeling’ to which Jojo enters in lead character Alex Owens’ welding outfit, and is then stripped off to his own dancercise outfit, in which he dances solo for us – yes, a definitely favourite bit of mine!! One of my most beloved songs – sung initially just by the two live singers – ‘He Lives In You’ leads us into ‘The Lion King’, in which this time, Jojo comes on as zebra Sukari (in ‘Unleashed’ he was Simba) – the entire cast later singing together was so beautiful and moving in this one. Next, everyone in pink, and it was time for Barbie! Jojo is brought in standing on a glitterball stage with glitterball picture frame! Such a great Ken!! Annnnd then, the ABBA/’Mamma Mia’ medley – just as it appeared in ‘Unleashed’, yet this time starting with Anthonia (I think) singing ‘The Winner Takes It All’ (superb) leading into ‘Money, Money, Money’, Jojo entering in his Donna outfit in white, complete with frilled bottom trousers and huge-rimmed hat, appropriately to ‘Gimme, Gimme, Gimme’ and then some ‘Voulez-Vous’; oh yes we do, or did, and would Voulez some more 😉. We got some more with Jojo raising the brim of his hat to reveal his grinning face to chat to us once more. At some point, between sections, and/or while outfit changes were going on – which did all happen at an almost incredible pace – Dalton/Paige sang ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’, with many of us in the audience accompanying, as we’d been invited to do. The finale was Loud & Proud – both its title and description – including ‘Vogue’ with Jojo as a lady as if from the 18th Century French court. We had ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’, ‘I Am What I Am’, ‘It’s Raining Men’ and some umbrella dancing, ‘We Are Family’, Jojo on the glitterball stage again as the glitterball, and then in a glorious red outfit to end and tell us “This is not the last dance”.

Phew… and I’m pretty sure I’ve missed some, but that is what I remember after FOUR FAB-U-LOUS FROLICS from JOYFUL JOJO and the KIDS PARTYING IN HIS HOUSE! Johannes Radebe: House of Jojo – Review by TheRestrictedReviewer © 2024

Johannes Radebe: Freedom Unleashed – The Peacock Theatre, London – Saturday 8th April 2023 & Brighton Theatre Royal – Saturday 29th April 2023

(Rated “It’s Still a Ten from Pen”) This Restricted Review is being compiled over a year after the event! My emotions in April 2023 were so taken over by my meet & greet with the man himself, which felt too personal really to be ‘hiding behind’ the mask of my alter ego The Restricted Reviewer. But for completion’s sake, I am borrowing from my otherwise noted down reactions at the time and sharing them here.

Peacock Theatre: Mine & My Jojo-Bestie's Easter Saturday Treat: Johannes Radebe's 'Freedom Unleashed' Bestie said the best £55 she's ever spent I might put it a different way involving fun and clothes :) 'Freedom' was extremely brilliant. This was off the scale Fab-u-lous, Darhlings Act1 as in his first show, Jojo dancing to his own South African tunes. Act2 - very Strictly dance inspired and with much gratitude to said TV show and including references to many of the roles he's been given to play - including a Casualty nurse asking Doctor Ellie Taylor how to revive a mannequin and Priscilla, Queen of the Dessert. My absolute favourite parts an ABBA medley with Jojo as Donna from 'Mamma Mia' and another 'Lion King' medley with Jojo as a very golden Simba :)<3

Brighton Theatre Royal: Johannes Radabe's 'Freedom Unleashed' was even better in Brighton (Saturday 29th April) Well according to Jojo it sold out first in Brighton. And anyone who knows anything about Brighton will know it would suit Jojo very well. I was crying during the whole of the first act all related to Jojo's South African heritage. So full of celebration and joy and I'm increasingly falling more in love with Afrobeats and dancing style. Full of messages around being strong with kindness and freedom! And shine as yourself! And goodness has Jojo lived that Then there's his Love, Acceptance and Unity section with songs to match including 'Imagine' and of course Being Gay & Proud The Strictly-inspired showtime section with 'We Go Together' from 'Grease' and a soupson of Jojo singing 'But now, there's nowhere to hide since you pushed my love aside...' and his Pink Ladies, going into ABBA's 'Gimme, Gimme, Gimme' and 'Voulez-Vous' and Jojo as Donna then into 'He Lives in You...' from 'The Lion King' and golden Jojo Simba :) The whole show inspires such utterly joyful campness and living your best life Pure Fun :) :) P.S. Jojo's playlist courtesy of another Jojo fan

Johannes Radebe: Freedom Unleashed – Review by TheRestrictedReviewer © 2023

A Strange Loop – Barbican Theatre – Saturday 5th August 2023

(Rated 5/5) I absolutely love the concept behind ‘A Strange Loop’. In fact, it is just my cup of tea, and I wish I’d had the idea myself! It is the story of Usher, who is a Broadway theatre usher and who is young, black, gay and a little tubby around the tum, and in the show, Usher is writing about Usher – theatre usher, young, black, gay, tubby – who is writing about Usher – theatre usher, etc, etc, etc, etc. You get the idea, I hope. And which came first in this strange loop, Usher, or Usher, or indeed Usher, wherever you start you get back to the origin being the destination, just like the age-old argument about the chicken and the egg. So, it’s very philosophical. It’s also very psychological. The supporting cast all play a ‘Thought’ each. For example, one thought transmits Usher’s ‘daily dose of self-loathing’, another his kind, encouraging inner self-talk, and another… there are six in total. They are like sub-personalities in a sense, and throughout the show shout ‘stuff’ (my word for issues, if you like) at him, while he is trying to make his way along internal and external paths, being obstacles or supporters in his physical, metaphorical and inner psychological journeys. At points they embody real characters in his life – his mom, dad, a potential date on a train. And of course, Usher interacts with all of them – dancing, singing and moving from concept to concept, scene to scene, as he tries to figure out what his show is all about. Of course, the thoughts and characters have their own ideas on that and again help, hinder, or even hijack his process. There’s plenty of fun, laughter, sadness and angst along the way. Various themes are explored as Usher attempts to discover who he is as he faces the difficulties of the multitude of factors about him, that would lead to conflict with culture, the church, the community, white, straight, men, women, and all other others, which may lead him to feel like an other, who does not fit! We had ‘Alternate Usher’, played by Kyle Birch. We thought he was brilliant. Such a wonderfully sensitive singer and performer. The songs in this show are lovely, poignant and catchy too. In fact, I have decided I am going to list the titles as they speak for themselves in relation to each of their focuses: ‘We Wanna Know’, ‘Inner White Girl’ (my favourite right now), ‘A Strange Loop’, ‘Intermission Song’, ‘Memory Song’, ‘Inwood Daddy’, ‘Exile in Gayville’, ‘Tyler Perry Writes Real Life’, ‘Intermission Song’, ‘Periodically’, ‘Precious Little Dream/AIDS is God’s Punishment’, ‘A Sympathetic Ear’, ‘Boundaries’ and ‘Second Wave’. As always in any musical each song contains so much of the essence of the character singing it and their story. Usher himself sings in all of them (I think!), so they tell the story of all his selves… with and without masks… in union or in conflict with the selves of others etc. I know I want to listen to them all over and over again to get everything. Perhaps I need to get a copy of the script too. That brings me to my only complaint about the show itself… American English really is a different language to English English, and at points Usher and his thoughts were talking so fast my poor little English ears couldn’t keep up or my brain didn’t understand, so I believe I missed a fair bit. Then again, I also feel it’s a show you’d need to see over and over again to get everything contained within it. It was adapted a little from the Broadway version for London audiences, as I understand it, but I reckon some things don’t quite translate anyway, which is fine. Just a consequence being elements get lost in translation, which in a way fits with the themes of the play around not being understood or accepted. In looking through the programme, I was amazed at how many producers this show has! I counted 27 of various types, including Johannes Radebe, Alan Cumming, Stephen Spielberg and his wife Kate Capshaw. There is also an intimacy director and drama therapist. Michael R. Jackson is responsible for the play, music, lyrics and vocal arrangements. Apparently, it all started as a monologue he wrote in drama school, and which took many years to become the show it is today. He is very clever writer in my view, and I think a legend in America. We had very front and very side seats in the circle. At first, we thought they were comfortable, but soon they turned out not to be – I did a lot of shifting myself around. But, they were ‘cheap’. The staging and production are superb though – colourful, glitzy and wild!

Yes, if you find yourself interested in the show from what I have written, I would highly recommend it. And as Johannes said, it educates as well as entertains. If not, then it simply may not be your cup of American tea 😉 A Strange Loop – Review by TheRestrictedReviewer © 2023

Johannes Radebe: Freedom – The Peacock Theatre – Saturday 2nd April 2022

 (Rated “It’s a Ten from Pen”)

In this Johannes Radebe’s first headlining tour he chose to share his life story so far told through the medium of dance. Using a beautifully simple colourful set changed by lighting (Designer Andrew Exeter) to take us from his place of birth – on Freedom Day 27^th April 1987 (Jojo was 7 years old when apartheid ended) – in the township of Zamdela, South Africa, via trips around the world and then settling into feeling fully at home in the Elstree studio of Strictly Come Dancing pairing John Waighte in the first all-male partnership last year.  Jojo explores how he came to feeling the freedom to fully express himself along this journey via moving to traditional South African beats, accidentally encountering the more contained ballroom dances along with their inspiring glittery costumes, transitioning to grooving along to ABBA on cruise ships, showing his ballroom and Latin skills on Dancing With The Stars South Africa and then making it all the way to the Mother Show Strictly! From his own beautiful blood Mother, being partnered with a best friend for life in ‘Auntie Cath’ Tyldesley, finding an English Mother figure in Caroline Quentin and then last year’s history-making partnership in a relationship of mutual love and respect. Jojo’s transformation from holding back to fully free is as much about the relationships along his journey. From Blood Family to Dance Family embracing all of who he is and enabling him to let that all out in full glittery glory on the dance floors of the world!

I realise I’m really struggling to write about this special experience that I had last Saturday with a really good friend and fellow Jojo fan because I am trying to do so in words! That’s impossible as the power of this performance was all about the movements, the emotions you get from the dances and the music that accompanies those dances and gives the dancers the rhythm and beats needed.

The show opens with fabulous singer Anelisa Lamola sweeping the floor as she sings and sets the scene of Jojo’s home township. The party starts with the full supporting company of dancers joining her on stage, and in time parting the way for the entrance of the beaming smiled apparition that is Johannes Radebe wearing very little more than a traditional South African headdress and loin cloth so revealing his incredibly lean yet muscular tall physique. So little of him. No wonder he couldn’t lift John Waighte haha! Though of course for John he was quite a weight to lift too! Goodness me 😉

And then we have the truly open personal touch as Jojo talks to his admiring audience about his dance and life journey. There was some heckling from what appeared to be his mainly female ‘of-a-certain-age’ (me too lol) audience expressing how much they love him and asking for the kiss of life etc! All taken in excellent humour as he playfully bantered back. Later in the interval one lady said that it was a shame he bats for the other side. I disagree. I’m beyond thrilled he is out and proud as a black gay guy realising his full potential and absolutely living his best life. It’s so beautiful to witness. He was full of gratitude for all our support in voting him to the final but no thanks needed – he gives back in spades of joy, emotional expression and supremely special dance entertainment.

More dancing, more exploration illustrates Jojo’s dance life in South Africa, through Ballroom and Latin and then later he shows us adaptations of his favourite routines from his Strictly dance life. My favourite of his dances with Cath Tyldesley is also his – The Rumba to ‘Shallow’ sung exceptionally well by Anelisa Lamola & Andile Mabhena. Adele’s ‘Hometown’ – again performed by Anelisa – also puts in an appearance hinting at Jojo&John’s Couples’ Choice as well as telling us London – as well as Zamdela – is Jojo’s hometown. (My only disappointment that none of that routine was actually danced – maybe just not possible without John.) I confess I hoped that Catherine, Caroline and John would appear though Cath is heavily pregnant with her daughter so making any dancing with or lifting her a little tricky. And maybe with being tour busy and covid Jojo sadly won’t be able to be the promised birth partner.  

All the dancers were very good though none as good as the main man 😉 Of special note Lowri Evans and Ben Rutter, both with Jojo in a fantastic Latin routine.

I am The Restricted Reviewer but actually this is the least restricted view I have ever had in any show. Right at the front row in the midst of the action. The show ended with a medley of true party numbers including ‘We Are Family’ – yes we really felt like Jojo’s Family – and up I got with many others to dance along whilst being showered in sparkly confetti and colourful streamers! In spite of disabilities - though happily much less now – I was saying to my friend “I was dancing” and she replied “Yes you really were”. So unfortunately I haven’t yet managed to become famous enough to get asked to do Strictly but I can say I have danced with my favourite Strictly dancer Mr Johannes Radebe!!

“I DANCE TO MY OWN TUNE” Proclaims Johannes Radebe as his motto for his ‘Freedom’ Tour… and Oh Yes He Does – What a Tune and What an Am-a-zing Dancer and All Round Profoundly B-e-a-utiful Human Being!

Johannes Radebe: Freedom – Review by TheRestrictedReviewer © 2022