Kinky Boots – Coliseum, London – Saturday 18th April & 16th May 2026

(Rated 7/5) 18th April: I’ve been sitting for some time now with laptop on my lap wondering how to write my West End 2026 ‘Kinky Boots’ review, because so much of the Tour 2025 ‘Kinky Boots’ review is completely relevant and to be honest, I’ve come to the conclusion it makes most sense to refer my dear RR readers to that to see what’s gone before, and I’ll just skip to my impressions and experience of the show at the Coliseum.

Booking this – back in July 2025 – felt huge. I – and I know other Johannes Radebe devotees – had a code for priority booking – and I sat poised again on this laptop at the appropriate time waiting for my code to come through, aware that I was not just booking for me this time, but for two very dear friends, who instead of chasing Jojo round the UK on tour, took a chance and waited for him – and this KB production – to get to the West End. The hour had come, but my code had not, so I went onto the website anyway, and found that simply putting in my name was enough to get me accessing tickets 😊 I know it’s technology working, but had me feeling special that was all I needed! I nabbed my middle front row stalls seats, told friends of my achievement, and then nabbed some more for another date too – yes, I know! And that was that – we were in!!! I posted my success on Jojo’s social media and got love reactions from him and his agent 😉

But who knows what will happen in months before the show-date finally comes round, and earlier this year, I had a health diagnosis, which put getting to the show in peril. I really don’t mean to sound overdramatic writing this, but I felt the weight of being the common connection – my two Jojo-bag Central Line friends had also booked the same date so we could all meet up – and also the huge disappointment I’d feel not to be able to experience the show with two of my absolute besties. I’d felt ever so excited about it happening. One of them, knowing what had happened, said it would feel a “hollow” experience without me, and my other bestie was reluctant too. However, it gave me a goal and a dream, which in itself gave me positive energy and hope to be able to get myself there. Both besties were also saying they’d do all they could to help me make it. Lots of active visualising of Jojo on stage right in front of me – me smiling up, him smiling down, and my besties beaming either side – manifesting as much as I could!

As fortune would have it – and this mentioned in my ‘Dracula’ review too – my op was brought forward and I was well enough to go! Still major anxiousness about what else might get in the way. And it sort of did with a bestie getting a throat infection! Hmph! But we got round that with him wearing a mask so as not to give to me and inhibit my recovery/treatments. Goodness! So kind and caring of him to tell me and to wear a mask, even though it would mean Jojo couldn’t see his face – then again that’d add to the mystery wouldn’t it 😉 “Who is that handsome man in the front row behind the mask?!”

Managed to meet up with Jojo-bag Central Line friends before too so all good. We’d made it!!!!! Slight heart missing a beat when we noticed that Liam Doyle would be playing Charlie Price, instead of Matt Cardle, but to be fair so long as Jojo was Lola all good for most of us!!! The Coliseum production is bigger and brighter than the tour in so many ways. They have more space on stage so more scope to move around and be more vibrant. The costumes for all characters are zhuzhed up too, and Lola has a great deal more wigs! (Also, Jojo seemed to be completely comfortable in all of them, unlike the one or two which seemed to bother him on tour.)

I thought Liam Doyle was a very good Charlie. (He normally plays Harry.) I have heard Matt Cardle’s voice is brilliant, so I am hoping I’ll see him next time, but it does seem he hasn’t been doing many of the shows?! Courtney Bowman reprises her role as Lauren and what a voice and presence she has. A wow of a woman! I also recognised a fair few others from the tour as well as new faces.

Though Lola first appears in big coat and almost hidden at the back of the stage – her key entrance at the Coliseum is to be rising up on a platform from below stage, as the Angels sing ‘Lola’ around her. The whoops and cheering as Jojo appeared could’ve raised the roof off the Coliseum!!! Glorious and shining like the brightest sun ever!!! And I know I said it in my tour review, but he has improved even more in his singing and acting. His singing voice now has more character to it and, I agree with Matt Cardle on this, a stunning hummingbird-esque vibrato added in too. Jojo singing ‘I Am Not My Father’s Son’ is beautiful beyond words. I would give anything to have a recording of that… please!!! He has settled so well into the acting it comes across as completely natural. Yes, others might be better at both those talents, but as one of my besties noted, his charisma is so off the charts that doesn’t matter. Again, as Matt says, though maybe not in these words he is super-fit and “ripped”, and his moving across the stage – especially in dance moves obviously – just sensational!!!

Only little funny thing that got in the way of my viewing experience. I was directly behind musical director Grant Walsh, and though he was cute (as masked bestie said), his head was in the way especially as Jojo started singing ‘I Am Not My Father’s Son’. Then, when his head wasn’t in the way, Lauren’s sewing-machine was! Oh well – a small Price to Pay – see what I did there?! 😉

My besties adored it!!! One of them already a Jojo-fan, the other now I think fast falling in love 😉 No need to say Jojo-bag Central Line friends still very much on board. I had the great pleasure of being accompanied by them back on the Central Line home too 😊 And all four of my fabulous friends looked after me exceptionally well too. Surrounded by them and with Jojo right in front of me on stage, I was certainly “Raised Up” and felt I could “Just Be Beautifully Me”!!!!!

16th May: And so we welcome the “Elusive” Mr Matt Cardle as Charlie Price and arguably a much better view for me and Bestie – though not the up-close-and-personal I love with front row stalls – from Box5 at stall level of the Coliseum – and previously masked Bestie “unmasked at last”!!! OMG I do love Boxes. You feel so special – and yes, ok, you’re paying more of a special price, but it’s comfortable and private (sort of) and like – well in the case of this particular Box – a big red warm hug with gorgeous décor. You’re separate from – yet together with the rest of the audience – and well, it just feels like treating yourself, which we all need to do now and then! Sadly Jojo-bag Central Line friend who loves Matt Cardle never got to see him, but I’ve now done that job for her 😉 I love his sensitive, gentle voice, the everyman-ness struggling to find himself he gives to Charlie, and his unassuming down-to-earth energy. His vocals are powerfully expressive and he is the gritty grounding to Jojo’s wowza of a Lola. For me their harmonising together on ‘I’m Not My Father’s Son’ was exquisitely goosebump inducing!

We had an Alternate Don for this performance and annoyingly I don’t know who he was! I didn’t think to note down his name from the board pre-show. But I thought he did a really good job, though perhaps was a little less ominous in the role than Billy Roberts.

I don’t think I’ve said enough about Courtney Bowman as Lauren in my KB reviews thus far, and I certainly haven’t said enough about Scott Paige as George. Both are my constants through this whole experience! I’ve seen different Lolas (5 Jojos and 1 Newtion) and definitely different Charlies (4 Dan Partridge, 1 Liam Doyle and 1 Matt Cardle), but Scott and Courtney have been there for all of my 6 KB performance-viewings and feel so solid and stable and comforting in that. Scott is absolutely excellent as George. He’s a gentle giant with so much warmth, loyalty, loves his traditions and conventional approaches and clothing yet embraces challenges and difference… and OMG when he appears on stage at the end for the Milan show well what a contrast in his appearance - raises a laugh every time he enters alongside Courtney’s Lauren. Courtney gives such delightful variety to Lauren. Every time I’ve seen her adding slightly different touches and nuances to her performance of ‘The History of Wrong Guys’. She’s fun and playful – I’d love her as a bestie. And Courtney is such a talent. Such a tour de force of a singing voice and speaking too. She’s so relatable, and yes, I can relate to her key song too!

Is there anything else I’ve missed out… well yes, lots, as I want more ‘Kinky Boots’ and sadly I really don’t think I’m going to get it! As I embark on a different kind of journey and experience that will likely mean my KB one is at an end. But what an absolutely fabulous and moving experience it has been. Such a pleasure to witness Jojo transform as a performer into the all-round superstar he now is. I’m aware how exceptionally nervous he was at the beginning and yet now how at ease in it all he seems to be – shining as gloriously as our brightest star in the universe. But the whole KB family have been so amazing too and the whole messaging of the show just makes you feel so blooming good and joyous!!!

So here’s to a number 7 Kinky Boots – my favourite number – even if it only happens in my imagination it’ll certainly have me “Celebrating Myself Triumphantly”!!!!!!! KinkyBoots – Review by TheRestrictedReviewer © 2026

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