The New Wolsey Theatre Ipswich and Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch co-produce a U.K. revival of the Tony- and Olivier Award-winning Kinky Boots, marking the show's first U.K. regional bow and 10 years since the musical’s 2012 debut at Chicago’s Bank of America Theatre.
The new production, directed by Tim Jackson, runs at New Wolsey Theatre Ipswich September 1–24 and Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch September 28–October 22.
READ: Kinky Boots Will Play Hollywood Bowl This Summer
The cast features Jay Anderson as Angel, Will Arundell (Queen of the Mist) as Harry/Bailey/onstage musical director, Matt Corner (The Last Ship) as Charlie, Aruhan Galieva (Doctor Who) as Lauren, Keanu Adolphus Johnson (Never Lost At Home) as Lola, Josephine Lloyd-Welcome (Goldie’s Oldies) as Georgie, George Lynham as Angel, Roddy Lynch as Don, Cavan Malone as Angel, Tim Parker as Mr. Price, Anna Soden (Five Children And It) as Nicola, Lucy Elizabeth Thorburn as Pat, and Hiromi Toyooka (she/her) as Angel.
Jackson reunites with the two theatres, having previously choreographed their revival of Made in Dagenham. He will also choreograph Merrily We Roll Along, directed by Maria Friedman and starring Daniel Radcliffe, at New York Theater Workshop later this year.
Jackson said in an earlier statement, “I’m thrilled to be directing the first U.K. revival of this fabulous musical. It’s a show that’s got it all: big laughs, a banging pop score, and an uplifting story about community, identity, and embracing ourselves and each other. Ten years since it took the world by storm, I’m relishing the opportunity to re-explore Kinky Boots in a brand-new production for a new generation. The piece remains as potent as ever, and I cannot wait to join audiences in celebrating our beautiful kaleidoscope of a world.”
The creative team also includes video designer Daniel Denton, sound designer Tony Gayle, choreographer Crystal Hantig, musical supervisor and arranger Charlie Ingles, lighting designer Jamie Platt, set and costume designer Amanda Stoodley, and assistant director Molly Wilsher.
The winner of six 2013 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Kinky Boots features a Tony-winning score by Cyndi Lauper and a book by Tony winner Harvey Fierstein. The production played 2,507 regular performances and 34 previews at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre.
The original Broadway company was headed by Billy Porter as indefatigable drag performer Lola, whose broken heel helps mend a broken wing for a foundering shoe-maker, originally played by Stark Sands. Both Porter and Sands were Tony-nominated for their performances; Porter won the Tony for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical, and director-choreographer Jerry Mitchell won his second career Tony Award for his choreography.
Matt Henry and Killian Donnelly led the West End premiere of Kinky Boots, which opened in September 2015 at the Adelphi Theatre. The Tony-winning musical recently made its Off-Broadway debut at Stage 42; read reviews for that production here.
The musical is based on the Miramax motion picture penned by Geoff Deane and Tim Firth.
Visit WolseyTheatre.co.uk and Queens-Theatre.co.uk.
