NEWS - KINKY BOOTS IS STRUTTING BACK TO THE WEST END – JOHANNES RADEBE TO STAR AS LOLA AT THE LONDON COLISEUM

Kinky Boots Struts Back into the West End with Johannes Radebe at the Helm!

Everybody say yeah! Get ready to sashay into a new era of Kinky Boots fabulousness, because the smash-hit musical is making a sensational return to London’s West End in 2026 — and this time, it’s bringing Strictly Come Dancing star Johannes Radebe in the iconic role of Lola!

🎭 A Return to the Capital in Sky-High Style

Winner of every major Best Musical award on Broadway and in the West End, Kinky Boots will strut its stuff at the legendary London Coliseum from 17 March to 11 July 2026, following a short run of previews at Leicester’s Curve Theatre from 3–7 March 2026.

The powerhouse producing team behind the revival — ROYO, Runaway Entertainment and Curve — are bringing back this feel-good favourite with an all-new UK tour and now, a triumphant Kinky Boots West End transfer. Tickets go on general sale 15 July 2025, and trust us, they’ll go faster than Lola in stilettos!

👠 The Story That Stands Tall

Based on the 2005 cult-classic film starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and inspired by real events, Kinky Boots tells the story of Charlie Price, a young man struggling to save his late father’s failing Northampton shoe factory. Enter Lola — a fierce, fabulous drag queen with a flair for fashion and a heart of gold — who might just have the perfect plan to turn things around.

With a book by Harvey Fierstein and a toe-tapping, pop-infused score by Grammy® winner Cyndi Lauper, the show is a celebration of acceptance, self-expression, and learning to walk a mile in someone else’s heels.

🌟 Johannes Radebe Makes His West End Musical Debut

Fresh from the Kinky Boots UK and Ireland tour, Johannes Radebe will step into Lola’s boots once again for his West End musical theatre debut. Best known for his groundbreaking run on Strictly Come Dancing — where he reached the final in the show’s first all-male partnership — Radebe has dreamed of this moment for years:

“My involvement in Kinky Boots has been six years in the making, and Lola was the only role I ever wanted to play... 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.”

Radebe will be joined by West End favourite Dan Partridge (Grease, Mamma Mia!) as Charlie Price and the always-energetic Courtney Bowman (SIX, Legally Blonde) as Lauren on the current UK tour — with full London cast to be announced soon.

🎶 A Creative Dream Team

The new production is directed by Nikolai Foster (Curve’s Artistic Director), with dazzling choreography by Leah Hill and show-stopping costumes designed by Robert Jones and Tom Rogers. With musical supervision from George Dyer, lighting by Ben Cracknell, and sound design by Adam Fisher, this is a production guaranteed to shine brighter than ever.

Even Kinky Boots’s original creators are buzzing:

Harvey Fierstein: “Just knowing that Kinky Boots is returning to its birthplace gives me goosebumps!”

Cyndi Lauper: “When audiences leave the show, they feel happy and uplifted – and that’s something the world could really use right now.”

🎟️ How to Get Tickets

• 🎫 London Coliseum Run: 17 March – 11 July 2026

• 💥 Tickets On Sale: Tuesday 15 July 2025, 12pm

• 🎟️ Book now at: kinkybootslondon.com/tickets

  
  

Advance booking is highly recommended — you don’t want to miss the ultimate feel-good fun night out!

💬 Final Thoughts

Whether you’re a long-time fan or seeing it for the first time, Kinky Boots is the kind of show that raises you up — and then some. With sky-high heels, a heart as big as Lola’s personality, and a message of empowerment and inclusion, this return to London is set to be a red-hot ticket of 2026.

“Kinky Boots struts its stuff and raises the roof – a joyous reminder that the right pair of heels really can change your life.” 👠💥