Kinky Boots the Musical – A heartfelt high-heeled hit at New Theatre Oxford. Click the image to view the full gallery.
Sometimes, the best way to fit in is to stand out — and that’s exactly what Kinky Boots does, strutting onto the New Theatre Oxford stage this week in a riot of colour, courage, and charisma.
This brand-new Made at Curve production of the Olivier, Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical is brought to Oxford by producers ROYO and Leicester’s Curve theatre, under the direction of Curve’s Artistic Director Nikolai Foster — known for bold reinventions of The Wizard of Oz, Billy Elliot, and A Chorus Line. With choreography by Leah Hill and a powerhouse score by pop icon Cyndi Lauper, Kinky Boots continues to dazzle audiences across the UK and Ireland as part of its 2025 tour.
Based on a true story — and the 2005 film of the same name — Kinky Boots follows Charlie Price, a young man struggling to save his family’s failing Northampton shoe factory.
With the business on the brink and his relationship falling apart, Charlie’s fortunes change when he meets Lola, a fabulous drag performer in desperate need of a more robust kind of high heel. Together, they embark on a bold new venture: designing and manufacturing glamorous, thigh-high “kinky boots” for the drag community — and, in doing so, discover the transformative power of self-belief and personal acceptance.
While Kinky Boots delivers plenty of feel-good energy and foot-stomping numbers, it’s Newtion Matthews in the role of Lola who truly steals the spotlight.
Matthews brings remarkable presence, poise and power to the part, delivering a performance that’s as emotionally resonant as it is electrifying. With previous credits including Get Up, Stand Up at the Lyric Theatre, Camelot in Concert at The London Palladium, Frontline at Shakespeare’s Globe and Black Power at The Old Vic, Matthews brings both range and theatrical heft to this complex role — equal parts glitter, grit and grace.
Vocally, Matthews is in fine form. Standout songs include the sultry, show-stopping The Land of Lola, where the audience is fully introduced to Lola’s dazzling confidence and unapologetic glamour, and the moving ballad I’m Not My Father’s Son, which strips back the sequins to reveal a more vulnerable, deeply human core. It’s in these quieter, reflective moments that the emotional depth of the show really lands — reminding us that behind the bravado lies a journey of self-acceptance and personal healing.
Matthews also nails the sharp wit and camp flair woven through Harvey Fierstein’s script. Lines like “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken”, “Ladies, gentlemen and those who are yet to make up your mind” and “Put on a frock and I can sing ‘Stand by Your Man’ in front of five hundred strangers… Put on a pair of jeans and I can’t even sodding well say hello” are delivered with delicious timing and knowing charm. The result is a Lola who is both larger-than-life and refreshingly grounded — a queen who commands the stage, but also lets us glimpse the person beneath the lashes and heels.
Cast of Kinky Boots on stage at New Theatre Oxford
Opposite Lola’s sparkle and sass, Dan Partridge brings a grounded, heartfelt performance as Charlie Price — the everyman caught between family legacy, financial ruin, and a need to forge his own path. With a stage presence that balances vulnerability and quiet determination, Partridge genuinely seems born to play this role.
Having previously charmed audiences as Danny Zuko in Grease (West End and National Tour), Rum Tum Tugger in CATS, Link Larkin in Hairspray, and Pepper in Mamma Mia!, Partridge brings West End polish and emotional depth to the conflicted factory owner. His standout number, Soul of a Man, is delivered with raw intensity, capturing Charlie’s internal struggle and ultimate realisation that strength isn’t about perfection — it’s about authenticity.
As Lauren, Courtney Bowman is an absolute joy — funny, fierce, and completely irresistible. Fresh from her WhatsOnStage Award-winning turn as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde at Regent’s Park, Bowman lights up the stage with her comedic timing and vocal prowess. Whether delivering banter in the breakroom or confessing a crush through the hilariously honest The History of Wrong Guys, she offers a performance that’s both refreshingly modern and emotionally sincere.
Together, Partridge and Bowman make the perfect counterpoint to Lola’s dazzling presence — giving the show a solid emotional centre and ensuring that Kinky Boots remains a story not just about fabulous shoes, but about real people stepping into who they truly are.
The real power of Kinky Boots lies not just in its high-octane performances or glittering costumes, but in the uplifting inspiration it leaves behind. It’s a reminder that it’s never too late to discover your passion, that being open to new ideas and unfamiliar people can lead you down paths you never imagined, and that growth often begins the moment we step out of our comfort zone — or into a fabulous pair of heels.
At its heart, this is a story about acceptance. About learning to see beyond the surface. Whether it’s the fiercest drag queen or the most typically ‘blokey’ factory worker, Kinky Boots makes the case — loudly and joyfully — that we all have more in common than we think. And as the factory floor becomes a runway and former adversaries become allies, it’s hard not to feel a little more hopeful about what’s possible when we meet each other with empathy and open arms.
Packed with heart, humour, and high kicks, Kinky Boots is more than a musical — it’s a celebration of individuality, resilience and the magic that happens when we choose to lift each other up.
Kinky Boots is only at New Theatre Oxford until Saturday 26 July, so please — if you can — get your tickets and go and see this fabulous show.
You can get your tickets here.
Behind the Scenes with Kinky Boots: Meet the Stars and Creators
As the brand-new UK and Ireland tour of Kinky Boots struts its way across the country, playing drag queen Lola is a dream come true for Newtion Matthews. A big fan of the character, he says: “For people who haven’t yet met the fabulous being that is Lola, she is a sex kitten, a fighter, unapologetically black and unapologetically queer. She’s fantastic.”
With a score by Cyndi Lauper and a book by Harvey Fierstein, Kinky Boots is based on the 2005 film of the same name — itself inspired by a true story. After a pre-Broadway run in Chicago, it opened on Broadway in 2013 and the West End in 2015. The Tony, Olivier and Grammy-winning show has been performed globally and toured both the US and UK.
Produced by ROYO and Curve, this Made at Curve production is directed by Nikolai Foster and tours until late July. The story follows Charlie Price, whose life and relationship are on shaky ground after inheriting his family’s failing Northampton shoe factory — until he meets Lola, whose sparkle, sass and unsteady heels might just hold the key to saving the business.
The show won Tony Awards for Best Musical and Best Original Score (Cyndi Lauper), and Billy Porter received Best Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Lola on Broadway. In the West End, Matt Henry earned the Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical playing the same role.
Filling such big shoes, Matthews shares: “Even though we have never crossed paths, I consider Billy Porter to be my auntie in life and Matt Henry is my industry brother. My first ever job out of drama school was with Matt at Shakespeare’s Globe, so I’ve known him for years and watched him grace the West End as Lola.”
Matthews’ own credits include Once on This Island, Get Up Stand Up and Camelot in Concert. This is his first time in Kinky Boots. “But I always put the manifestation out there of being Lola. I would be lying if I said it wasn’t daunting, but it’s far more exciting to get the chance to get into the meat and gristle and the guts and glory of it all.”
On mastering the heels, he smiles: “I’ve had a few moments walking in heels in advance of being in Kinky Boots, including classes as a dancer. Now it’s about strengthening the ankles and doing the exercises so that I’m able to really stomp it out.”
The story holds personal meaning for Matthews: “I know all about being the queer child who wasn’t always embraced and wasn’t always accepted, who then grew into a teenager and a man who wasn’t always embraced and accepted. At this chapter in my life, it’s about understanding that acceptance has to come from yourself first.”
He adds: “That’s one of the things I’ve taken away from this show. The key message is: be unafraid to be unapologetic and if you’re an ally be unafraid to be supportive. We may not look like each other but we all have an understanding of the human experience. We need to stop judging each other and we need to learn to accept each other.”
Cast of Kinky Boots at New Theatre Oxford
Dan Partridge plays Charlie Price and shares his thoughts: “The main thing that drew me to it was the exploration and unpacking of masculine identities. It’s something that I’m personally quite passionate about — the way that men communicate with one another and the way that men identify in a community.”
Charlie is a working-class guy whose eyes open to a wider world after meeting Lola and seeing her perform in a London club. Partridge explains: “So you have these two polar opposite characters, and you see how those worlds can cross and how they, and indeed we, can learn from one another.”
Having worked with director Nikolai Foster before in Evita and Grease, Partridge praises his collaborative style: Working with him was another drawing point for me. He allows you to collaborate as an actor, as opposed to a lot of directors who will just tell you what to do. It’s very much like we are creating something together and he really allows you to have a voice.”
About Charlie’s character: “He’s complicated. When we meet him, he doesn’t think very highly of himself, then throughout the show, he finds his confidence. He’s small-town-minded, but he learns to open his mind and his heart. Once he meets Lola, his world is turned upside down, and he’s a brilliant character to play because there’s so much to him.”
Dan’s previous credits include Cats, Hairspray (UK tours) and Mamma Mia! in the West End. On what makes Kinky Boots special, he smiles: “As Cyndi herself described the show to me, it’s like a happy pill that makes people want to come back for more. You see the ugly side of bigotry and prejudice, then you see that actually everyone has a right to identify how they want. That journey is really beautiful.”
Courtney Bowman plays Lauren, a relatable factory worker unlucky in love and nursing a crush on Charlie. She says: “She’s really relatable to a lot of people, especially if they’ve had tragic times in their love lives. She’s such a fun working class girl, so it’s kind of like holding up a mirror to myself, and that also makes her great fun to play. She’s a bit weird at times, awkward and quirky.”
A WhatsOnStage Award winner for Legally Blonde, Bowman has also starred in Pretty Woman, SIX, and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. Having played Lauren in a concert version of Kinky Boots, she recalls: “That was a bit crazy because we only had a week to put the show together. Then, when we performed it, I was running off into the wings and looking at the script before running back on again. Getting to spend more time with Lauren now is great because I can really sink my teeth into it.”
On why Kinky Boots is such a great musical theatre piece, Bowman explains: “For one thing, there’s Cyndi’s fantastic music and lyrics. Then there’s Harvey’s book, which has so much heart and grit. I love how Nikolai has stripped it all back to focus on the core of the story. Everyone will leave feeling moved and uplifted.”
She feels the themes are universal: “It tackles prejudice and homophobia, but it’s also about family and acceptance. Everyone’s got a pair of boots that they’re dealing with, whether literally or metaphorically. The message of tolerance and self-belief is delivered brilliantly by Cyndi’s music and Harvey’s dialogue.”
Choreographer Leah Hill was drawn to the story, music and message: “It’s really clever in how it challenges audiences to talk more about certain things, whether it’s to do with sexuality, identity, gender, race, different communities and cultures. The beautiful thing about theatre is that it’s a platform to start conversations.”
Hill, who won at the Black British Theatre Awards for her choreographic debut with The Wiz revival, adds: “The challenge with Kinky Boots is: in the original production it was so beautifully done that it makes you wonder ‘What could I possibly add?’ But I get to make it bespoke for the actors I’m working with and in some ways Nikolai’s approach is more visceral. This version is a new take, so we’re creating different languages for these different communities of people.”
On the music: “It’s gorgeous and it’s really exciting. It is such a feel-good show and what we’re doing within that is trying to get people to really listen to the lyrics. I feel like I can contribute to that with movement, by heightening certain things.”
The show is set in the mid-2000s, before RuPaul’s Drag Race made drag mainstream. Hill points out: “And it wasn’t as polished per se as it is now, so that’s something which has been really interesting to dig into. The stakes for drag performers back then were higher; it was perhaps a bit more dangerous for those communities to perform, and I want to pay homage to that. It’s beautiful where drag has landed, but it’s important to show where it started.”
Sidebar: Kinky Boots press event
The post Review: Kinky Boots the Musical – A heartfelt high-heeled hit at New Theatre Oxford appeared first on The Oxford Magazine.
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