Following a record-breaking tour, it has been announced that Strictly Come Dancing star, Johannes Radebe will make his West End debut, reprising the role of Lola, in the brand-new production of Kinky Boots The Musical opening in March at the London Coliseum.
The new limited run of the popular musical will be from 17th March to 11th July 2026 with a week of previews at Curve, Leicester from 3rd March 2026.
Kinky Boots The Musical features a book by Harvey Fierstein and a score by 80s pop icon, Cyndi Lauper. It will be directed by Curve’s artistic director, Nikolai Foster (My Fair Lady, A Chorus Line, Billy Elliot).
Composer and lyricist, Cyndi Lauper said: “I’m so thrilled that Kinky Boots is returning home to London! When audiences leave the show, they feel happy and uplifted, and that’s something the world could really use right now. It’s so wonderful that this musical keeps bringing joy and acceptance to people around the world.”
“When audiences leave the show, they feel happy and uplifted, and that’s something the world could really use right now.”
Cyndi Lauper
The show has been hugely popular in the West End and on Broadway and is based on a true story and movie of the same name released in 2005 which takes you from a gentlemen’s shoe factory in Northampton to the glamorous catwalks of Milan.
Johannes Radebe: the new star of the show
Born and talent-nurtured in Zamdela Sasolburg, Johannes Radebe started dancing at the age of seven, fascinated by the discipline and the glamour of Ballroom and Latin. He was invited to join the debut season of Dancing With The Stars in South Africa and then toured the world in dance show Burn The Floor before being head-hunted by Strictly Come Dancing in the UK.
His debut solo UK tour, Freedom and follow-up show Freedom Unleashed sold out, including a week in London’s West End at the Peacock Theatre, whilst his 2024 UK tour, House of Jojo, played to packed houses including two shows at the London Palladium.
Johannes Radebe said: “My involvement in Kinky Boots has been six years in the making, and Lola was the only role I ever wanted to play. Harvey Fierstein and Cyndi Lauper have written a show about accepting people for who they are, and the love our production has received across the UK has been overwhelming, beautiful and life changing.
“The theatre community has welcomed me, and I am having the time of my life. It is the greatest honour and responsibility to bring this show to the world famous, iconic London Coliseum. I’ll be walking in the footsteps of theatre and entertainment giants who have performed on that stage, and I’ll be doing it in my own sequined pair of red leather Kinky Boots. I cannot wait! Thank you and see you next year.”
“My involvement in Kinky Boots has been six years in the making, and Lola was the only role I ever wanted to play.”
Johannes Radebe
What’s the Kinky Boots story about?
When Charlie Price inherits his family’s failing shoe factory, saving the company – and his love life – feels like an impossibly tall order. Until, that is, he meets Lola, the sparkling, larger-than-life drag queen with the unlikeliest of answers. Can they work together to reboot the business and save the day? Perhaps they just need to help each other – and everyone around them – to stand a little taller…
For more information visit KinkyBootsLondon.com
