Kinky Boots books 2026 West End return with Strictly’s Johannes Radebe stepping into Lola’s heels

The high-spirited hit musical Kinky Boots is strutting back to London in spring 2026, with Strictly Come Dancingfavourite Johannes Radebe leading the company as drag diva Lola. Radebe, who reached the 2021 Strictly final in the show’s first all-male pairing, will make his full West End musical-theatre debut after playing Lola on the current UK and Ireland tour.

Limited London Coliseum season

• Previews: Curve, Leicester – 3 to 7 March 2026

• West End run: London Coliseum – 17 March to 11 July 2026

• Tickets on sale: 15 July 2025

The Coliseum engagement will follow a week of preview performances back at Leicester’s Curve, where the tour opened in February 2024.

Creative team and production partners

Curve artistic director Nikolai Foster will once again helm Harvey Fierstein and Cyndi Lauper’s Tony-winning adaptation of the 2005 film. Leah Hill provides choreography, with production designers Robert Jones (sets/costumes) and Tom Rogers (Lola and the Angels’ costumes). George Dyer returns as musical supervisor, joined by lighting designer Ben Cracknell and sound designer Adam Fisher. Casting is by Harry Blumenau, and Campbell Young Associates handle wigs, hair and make-up. The show is produced by ROYO, Runaway Entertainment and Curve, with Setting Line overseeing production management. Further principal and ensemble casting will be announced in the coming months.

From Northampton to London — and beyond

Kinky Boots tells the story of Charlie Price, who inherits a failing Northampton shoe factory and teams up with larger-than-life performer Lola to pivot the business toward high-fashion footwear for drag artists. Since its Broadway premiere in 2013 the musical has played worldwide, celebrated for its inclusive message and Lauper’s chart-topping score, which features numbers such as “Everybody Say Yeah,” “The History of Wrong Guys” and “Raise You Up/Just Be.”

Radebe’s return to the role he calls his dream character marks the culmination of a six-year journey with the show. His casting places him among a lineage of celebrated performers who have donned Lola’s signature red boots, from Tony winner Billy Porter to Olivier nominee Matt Henry.

With its feel-good story of acceptance and a star turn from one of television’s most popular dancers, the Coliseum season is poised to be one of the West End’s hot tickets of 2026.