The New Wolsey Theatre Ipswich and Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch will co-produce a U.K. revival of the Tony- and Olivier Award-winning Kinky Boots, marking the show's U.K. regional debut and 10 years since the musical’s 2012 debut at Chicago’s Bank of America Theatre.
The new production, which will be directed by Tim Jackson, will run at New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich September 1-24 and Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch September 28-October 22. Casting and additional creative team members will be announced at a later date.
READ: Kinky Boots Will Play Hollywood Bowl This Summer
Jackson reunites with the two theatres, having previously choreographed their revival of Made in Dagenham. He will choreograph Merrily We Roll Along, directed by Maria Friedman and starring Daniel Radcliffe, at New York Theater Workshop later this year.
Jackson says, “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 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 musical is based on the Miramax motion picture penned by Geoff Deane and Tim Firth.
Visit WolseyTheatre.co.uk and Queens-Theatre.co.uk.
