Kinky Boots at the Royal & Derngate Northampton Review

Reviewed by Jayne Wiggins

From failing factory floor to the world fashion stage, Kinky Boots came back home to Northampton last night with more glitz and bling than a disco ball! Based around the failing shoe factories of Northamptonshire in the 1990s, the story tells of the rescue of one such factory. Shoe making firm W.J. Brooks was on the brink of closure when a chance encounter saw the fortunes of this failing factory turn around with a re-invention, designing quality heeled boots for the drag queen scene.

The change of fortune was the inspiration behind the 2005 film of Kinky Boots before being turned into an award winning stage production.

Bringing the show home to it’s Northampton conception ground was bound to bring the house down, and it did! We were treated to a pre-show meeting with some of the glamourous cast and were then treated with the most uplifting show to hit the stage in years!

Callum Francis as Lola took that character and tore up the rule books! With character portrayals similar to Tim Curry’s Dr. Frank N. Furter, then moments which brought the audience to tears, he deserved the accolades he has been receiving world wide for this role. Lola’s bravado and over confidence masks a hurt man with a painful past, trying to find his way in the world as a man who does not follow the conventional norms. Francis’ vocals were spectacular and had me awestruck from the first note. His highs blew me away. He had me laughing until my cheeks hurt then crying as he sang of his tormented relationship with his father and the world. His acting deserves everything he is awarded for! He is believable, inspiring, devastating and charming, in equal measure and brings into question everything we think of as being manly.

The ensemble of ‘Angles’ – Lola’s drag queen dancers, matched Francis’ vocals in their spectacular dance display, flexibility and glamorous costumes. Each and every one of these deserved the very best costume to show off the ultimate in drag and glamour.

Joel Harper-Jackson was perfect as the almost downtrodden Charlie. Thrust into management after the death of his father, with a demanding fiancée desperate to get out of Northampton. He is a weak roll model at first and there is a danger the factory really will close under his leadership. Harper-Jackson has a fabulous voice, if not as strong as Francis, which carried his character well throughout the show. His heartfelt portrayal of a little boy lost gave him a charm every softy wanted to look after.

The rest of the cast and ensemble were perfect in each role they had. Each female protagonist played her role to perfection, from pushy fiancée, to secret crush and hardened factory worker. Each voice stood out on it’s own merit, with costume adding to the mundane factory scene before glitzing up the stage as a Milan catwalk.

As the final number started to crescendo I had already dropped my programme to the floor knowing that we would lift the roof as this show came to a close. The roar as the show opened was evidence enough that this audience were not to be quietened! As the company hit the stage the audience were already on our feet. Before the invite to clap had been thrown we were joining in that final dance and would not have been out of place had we ALL been wearing those Kinky Boots!

If you have one bling show to see this year, make sure it is this one. Old and young will get a new insight into manhood, relationships and the drag scene.

Rating: 5/5

Tickets cost from £16 (booking fees may apply).

Kinky Boots is at the Royal & Derngate from 19 September to 6 October 2018, for more information or to book tickets visit www.royalandderngate.co.uk or call the box office on 01604 624811.

Royal & Derngate, Guildhall Road, Northampton, NN1 1DP | 01604 624811