Full casting has been announced for the new revival of Kinky Boots The Musical at New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich and Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch in London.
Matt Corner will play Charlie Price who is trying to save his family’s shoe factory, and Keanu Adolphus Johnson plays Lola, the drag queen who unexpectedly helps him.
They will be joined by Jay Anderson as an Angel, Will Arundell as Harry/Bailey/onstage musical director, Aruhan Galieva as Lauren, Josephine Lloyd-Welcome as Georgie, George Lynham as an Angel, Roddy Lynch as Don, Cavan Malone as an Angel, Tim Parker as Mr Price, Anna Soden as Nicola, Lucy Elizabeth Thorburn as Pat, and Hiromi Toyooka as an Angel.
Casting for Young Lola and Young Charlie will be announced at a later date.
The new actor-musician production, directed by Tim Jackson, will run at New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich from 1 to 24 September 2022 and then at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch from 28 September to 22 October.
The creative team will also include Daniel Denton as video designer, Tony Gayle as sound designer, Crystal Hantig as choreographer, Charlie Ingles as musical supervisor and arranger, Jamie Platt as lighting designer, Amanda Stoodley as set and costume designer, and Molly Wilsher as assistant director.
Tim Jackson said: “The casting process has been a real joy – we’ve met such talented folk and roared with laughter every day.
“Person after person has shared in their connection to the show and its wonderful characters, and I am thrilled to have found an ensemble of exceptional performers who all lead with kindness and heart.
“Each actor is bringing something special and individual to our rehearsal room, and there is a powerful collective desire to make this new production a beautiful celebration of self-love, individuality and acceptance.
“With a cast of 13, we can revel in the intimacy of the 2005 film on which the musical is based, and allow our audiences to feel part of the factory community.
“And when we need to let rip, we’ve got a company that can bring a spectacular, explosive, contemporary energy.
“Audiences should expect stellar actor-musicianship, killer vocals and dazzling, high-octane (high-heeled!) dancing, all packaged within a funny, empowering, heart-warming story.”
The original production of Kinky Boots was directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell, featuring a Tony-Award nominated book by Harvey Fierstein and Tony and Grammy award-winning music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper.
Tim Jackson’s production will be the first UK revival of the show which originally opened on Broadway in 2012 and London’s West End in 2015 where it ran until 2019 and toured the UK in 2018/19.
StageWire UK 