Interview: The KINKY BOOTS London Cast Talks Nostalgia, Audience Reaction and Acceptance

It's now three years since Kinky Boots strutted its way into the West End. Based on a true story, the show follows Charlie Price, who turns his father's failing shoe factory into a success by making outrageous thigh-high boots, after a chance meeting with drag queen Lola.

From mid September, a new production heads off on tour around the country, and 12 January 2019 will see the final West End Show.

After a sparkling performance to celebrate their third birthday, BroadwayWorld caught up with Oliver Tompsett (Charlie), Natalie McQueen (Lauren) and Simon-Anthony Rhoden (Lola) to talk about the success of the show, their most memorable moments and how they feel about it all coming to an end.

"The ending is always bittersweet," says McQueen, "but it's nice to hand over to a new cast. I don't want people to forget the message of the show about acceptance. It's so important to remember that. London is open, but the theatre audience isn't always people from London. When it tours it will get a different reaction, but I'm sure it will go down so well. I'm excited to see how people react."

Rhoden is not quite so positive that the show is ending. "I think it's a sad time for the West End to lose such an amazing show." He adds: "I would love to see it in the West End for years to come like Phantom or Les Mis - not just for me, but because it's such an important and strong message."

What with the phenomenal success of Everybody's Talking About Jamie, shows with men in drag don't seem that shocking today, but back in 2015, Kinky Boots led the way in portraying a message of love and tolerance for the LBGTQ community. "It's a trailblazer for acceptance of being different," says Rhoden. "In our society, it's so important for these shows to exist."

Tompsett agrees, and talks about his own experience coming into the show. "It's eye-opening on another level when you're in the show: how you perceive people who are different. You think you're very liberal, being in theatre, but this show makes you celebrate people who do something different. Drastic change does not happen overnight - you have to push the boundaries. I think this show connects what we saw in Billy Elliot now to Jamie. There needs to be more acceptance."

McQueen credits the show with bringing drag into the mainstream. "It's normal, it's not fantasy, it's everyday life." She also finds it easy to relate to the quirkiness and difference of her character Lauren.

"She's weird!" she states, smiling broadly. "Every Lauren is different, but I'm odd in my own specific way. I don't slot in always and I struggle as I'm quite alternative in my everyday life anyway. But [director] Jerry Mitchell and everyone have done such a good job so I can make it my own. I'm working with a group of people who are pioneers!"

Unfortunately, female composers are still a rarity in musical theatre; Lisa Kron's Fun Home has been a hit at the Young Vic and Sara Bareilles and Jessie Nelson's Waitress is making a much-anticipated West End debut next spring, but Cyndi Lauper made a huge impact with brilliant and emotionally engaging composition in this show.

Tompsett credits the challenge of singing the highly emotional "The Soul Of A Man" with pushing his professional boundaries to the limit. "The delivery [of it] has been a massive challenge to me," he admits.

"There are times when you question if you're in the right career and you cannot succeed unless you feel like you might fail. The song is heart-wrenching and, as a father myself, I understand it better; seeing the journey I relate [it] to my younger childhood, sniggering at school in the 80s and 90s at people on TV who were gay. I hope the audience feel that this is the turning point for Charlie where he learns acceptance."

Rhoden also credits the writing in the success of the show. "I love 'Land Of Lola', as it's written perfectly for any performer. The entrance she has and the songs are amazing, as well as the costumes of course. The most important song scene for me is outside the toilet in the factory with Charlie. 'Not My Father's Son' has the most important message. Lola has grown up when the world didn't see who she was. It is the most empowering scene."

Audience reaction on birthday night was an eruption of whoops and cheers. Tompsett admits that "the audience is always engaged, but the vibe went up tonight!" Now, after over 1,200 performances, why do the actors think that the show has been so successful?

"The show is just fun, fun, fun," says Tompsett. McQueen thinks it's always interesting to watch the reaction of certain members of the audience. "There will always be an audience member who's sitting there with their arms crossed who goes on to have a great time. Audience reaction is always a highlight."

Rhoden admits that the subject matter can be challenging for some people. "The topic is tricky and some people wouldn't come, but changing people's opinion is fantastic. Structurally, it's amazing for the audience to feel things and for the cast to interact with the audience. I'm so happy it's done so well."

Much of the show's success is down to these and all the other hard-working cast members, but it is also refreshing to see a production with such heart-warming and universal sentiments. Rhoden sums it up perfectly in what he sees as Lola's message: "Always be yourself and be kind to others."

Kinky Boots is at the Adelphi Theatre until 12 January 2019 and touring from 19 September

Photo Credit: Helen Maybanks, Darren Bell