Thin plot but plenty of sass as Kinky Boots struts into Sunderland Empire
Tosh Wanogho-Maud’s stage presence, sassiness and superlative singing made his performance as drag queen ‘Lola’ one of the stand out performances of the year.
I’ve seen many shows at the Sunderland Empire and elsewhere in 2025 but nowhere have I seen anyone create such warmth from an audience.
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After a slow start in the opening 20 minutes I was wondering where this production was going but Wanogho-Maud lifted the touring stage show of this 2005 film to lofty heights.
The plot is as thin as the leather on worn out shoes. Charlie Price (Don Partridge) has inherited his father’s failing shoe factory.
With all due respect to Northampton where shoes have been made since before boats began to be built on the Wear, the prospect of watching a drama set in a Northampton shoe factory didn’t offer the greatest appeal.
As the evening progressed more and more layers were added as people’s perceptions of individuality based on looks and sexuality were challenged, with some smart one-liners keeping the mood light if never less than thought-provoking. Shoes – or boots – come in pairs after all.
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This musical cleverly showed that however different a pair of people might seem they still could have so much life experience in common.
This was never better illustrated than in the moving song, ‘I’m Not My Father’s Son’ while ‘Sex is in the Heel’ was another high point in more ways than one.
A word too for Courtney Bowman as Lauren, the factory worker who falls in love with the boss. She was gifted some of the best lines in the script and made maximum use of them.
As red hot as the reddest of kinky boots the show revolved around, this production directed by Nikolai Foster and with choreography by Leah Hill will open in the West End at the London Coliseum in March.
Johannes Radebe will take over the lead role of Lola from Tosh Wanogho-Maud in the capital. He will have to go some to match the performance currently on display in Sunderland.
With music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper of ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’ fame, this old bloke had a lot of fun at this show too – as did an audience who didn’t want it to end.
Review by Rob Mason.
KINKY BOOTS will strut its stuff at the Sunderland Empire until Saturday 6 December 2025. Tickets available online now at ATGTickets.com/ Sunderland *
* A £3.95 transaction fee may apply to online bookings.