PREVIEW: Kinky Boots struts into the Sunderland Empire

CREDIT: Sunderland Empire

Kinky Boots, the Olivier and Tony Award-winning stage musical, is strutting its way into Sunderland Empire. With a score from pop icon Cyndi Lauper, the musical is an adaptation of the 2005 film of the same name, which is itself based on a true story. The Golden Globe-nominated film starred Chiwetel Ejiofor as Lola, with theatre star Tosh Wanogho-Maud taking on the drag queen role onstage.

Tosh Wanogho-Maud as Lola CREDIT: Sunderland Empire

Charlie Price (portrayed by Dan Partridge) is the struggling heir to his family’s shoe factory who befriends a drag queen, whose sparkle might just be able to save the failing business.

Partridge sees the show as an exploration of how masculinity is perceived: “The main thing that drew me to it was the exploration and unpacking of masculine identities. It’s something that I’m personally quite passionate about – the way that men communicate with one another and the way that men identify in a community.”

Dan Partidge as Charlie Price
CREDIT: Sunderland Empire

This is not the first time the production has found itself on the Empire stage, with the show previously featuring at the venue back in 2019. Since then, Kinky Boots has been performed at theatres across Europe and the wider world.

Courtney Bowman, who stars as factory worker Lauren, thinks that the reason Kinky Boots has been so successful is due to creative collaboration: “For one thing, there’s Cyndi’s fantastic music and lyrics. Then there’s Harvey [Fierstein]’s book, which has so much heart and grit. I love how Nikolai [Foster, director] has stripped it all back to focus on the core of the story. Everyone will leave feeling moved and uplifted.”

Courtney Bowman as Lauren
CREDIT: Sunderland Empire

Kinky Boots is directed by Nikolai Foster, who has recently been announced to direct the upcoming debut tour of the stage adaptation of The Silence of the Lambs, with choreography courtesy of Leah Hill. Kinky Boots is produced by ROYO and CURVE.

Kinky Boots is at Sunderland Empire from December 2 to December 6, and tickets are available from £15 at ATG Tickets.