Strictly star shines in dull musical

London Coliseum

The critics agreed that Strictly star Johannes Radebe is a success as drag queen Lola in this revival of Cyndi Lauper’s musical. While reviewers complimented co-star Matt Cardle’s singing, most were critical of his acting. Opinions varied on the quality of Harvey Fierstein’s book but it was agreed that Nikolai Foster‘s production was spectacular.

[Links to full reviews are included but a number are behind paywalls and therefore may not be accessible]

4 stars ⭑⭑⭑⭑

Tom Wicker for TimeOut had plenty of good things to say about the show: ‘Foster’s staging is gorgeous…Leah Hill’s choreography is playfully breathless…(Radebe) brings an intensity to this larger-than-life character that’s operatic in pitch and disco-fabulous in tone‘. The only weakness was Matt Cardle ‘whose stiff and hesitant performance turns Charlie from everyman into nowhere man’.

Paul Vale at The Stage commented; ‘In Foster’s production, Lola is a goddess of defiance and rebellion. Radebe amps up the dance and doubles down on fabulous. That could imbalance the piece, but it actually brings cohesion to a musical that’s always struggled with its own identity.’

3 stars ⭑⭑⭑

Lindsey Winship’s review for The Guardian starts on a high with praise for Johannes Radebe, saying he is: ‘utterly magnetic on stage, and when he’s dancing you can’t take your eyes off him.’ But ends on a more downbeat note: ‘It’s an enjoyable night out, and a brilliantly unlikely story, but in terms of the craft of musical theatre, Kinky Boots leans towards the pedestrian.’

The Times’ Clive Davis reported : ‘As you’d expect, the physically imposing Radebe nails all the moves in Leah Hill’s high-energy choreography and brings a winning vulnerability to a character who has had to come to terms with being an outsider. Cyndi Lauper’s songs have stood the test of time. What a Woman Wants, with its echoes of Gotan Project techno beats, delivers crisp tango flourishes.’

The Telegraph’s film critic Tim Robey praised Johannes Radebe: ‘This is stage presence: anyone who has paid purely to come and see him dance will be mesmerised.’ But he noted: The problems come down more to Harvey Fierstein’s book, based on the 2005 film. For the man behind such landmark gay writing for the theatre as Torch Song Trilogy and La Cage aux Folles, he did a weirdly nervous job all round here.’

Theo Bosanquet at LondonTheatre was happy: ‘there’s plenty to enjoy from this latest popular musical to play theatreland’s largest venue…However well-worn those red boots may now be, there’s an undeniably nostalgic enjoyment about slipping into them one more time.’

BroadwayWorld’s Aliya Al-Hassan found it ‘fails to capture the energy and vigour of its previous iteration.’ There were aspects that pleased her: about Radebe, she noted: ‘Leah Hill’s choreography allows him to shine throughout, with rapid-fire footwork and pirouettes off stage.’ And ‘Matt Cardle shows off some nice vocals’. However, she was not alone in reporting: ‘The main issue with this show is the sound, which is tinny and echoing throughout.’

2 stars

The Standard’s Nick Curtis was blunt: ‘A fierce, fabulous performance from Strictly star Johannes Radebe is the unlikely saving grace in this misconceived revival of the 2012 musical about footwear and self-acceptance. Despite winning a Tony, Olivier and Grammy award, Kinky Boots has always been a small and deeply mediocre show, and an oddball, hybrid work.’

Critics’ average rating 3.1⭑

Value rating 31 (Value Rating is a combination of the critics’ rating and the typical ticket price)

Kinky Boots can be seen at the London Coliseum until 11 July 2026 . Buy tickets directly from the theatre

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