Photo Flash: KINKY BOOTS Cast Visits Wolverhampton's original Boot Factory

Today, members of the Kinky Boots cast visited the Wolverhampton Boot Factory, just minutes from the Grand Theatre where the hit Broadway and West End production is currently playing until 27 October.

Callum Francis (Lola), Joel Harper-Jackson (Charlie), Paula Lane (Lauren), George Grayson (Swing Angel) and Jacob McIntosh (Swing Angel) all took time out from the show, which is set in a Northampton boot factory, to visit the site of what was the James Baker Boot Factory on Cleveland Road in Wolverhampton.

The Wolverhampton boot and shoe manufacturing company was originally founded in 1850 by James Baker. The business started out producing industrial footwear, but later moved to the production of ladies' and gentlemen's' boots and shoes.

Just like in the Kinky Boots story where Charlie Price inherits his father's Northampton shoe factory, on James Baker's death, the Wolverhampton business 'Baker's Boot Factory' passed down to his two sons, T. G and W. P. Baker. They were trading until at least 1950. The building is now home to the LearnPlay Foundation.

Press & PR Manager at the Grand Theatre, Scott Bird said; "the story of the Wolverhampton Boot Factory was really exciting to discover. Whilst boot production ended some time ago, the building still looks incredibly like the Price & Son factory in the musical today. It has been wonderful to uncover a history to Wolverhampton that is so closely matched to Northampton's where the Kinky Boots story is set."

The full cast for Kinky Boots at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre is Callum Francis (Lola), Joel Harper-Jackson (Charlie) and Paula Lane (Lauren), Demitri Lampra (Don), Adam Price (George) Helen Ternent (Nicola) who will be accompanied by Charlie Allen, Nicola Avino, Lizzie Bea, Joshua St Clair, Connor Collins, Daniel Conway, Shaun Dalton, John Dempsey, Niki Evans, Mary Fox, Scarlet Gabriel, Damon Gould, George Grayson, Portia Harry, Joshua Lovell, Jacob McIntosh, Chileshe Mondelle, Alfie Parker, Fred Smiley, Toyan Thomas-Browne, Andy Watkins and Jason Winter with Kayi Ushe.

KINKY BOOTS at the Adelphi Theatre has become a favourite with UK theatregoers having won three Olivier Awards for Best New Musical, Best Costume Design and Best Actor in a Musical for Matt Henry who played Lola. Kinky Boots also won the London Evening Standard BBC Radio 2 Audience Award for Best Musical as well as three WhatsOnStage Awards for Best New Musical, Best Actor in a Musical and Best Choreography.

With a book by Broadway legend and four-time Tony® Award-winner Harvey Fierstein (La Cage aux Folles), and songs by Grammy® and Tony® winning pop iconCyndi Lauper, this joyous musical celebration is about the friendships we discover, and the belief that you can change the world when you change your mind.

Inspired by true events, Kinky Boots takes you from a gentlemen's shoe factory in Northampton to the glamorous catwalks of Milan. Charlie Price is struggling to live up to his father's expectations and continue the family business of Price & Son. With the factory's future hanging in the balance, help arrives in the unlikely but spectacular form of Lola, a fabulous performer in need of some sturdy new stilettos.

With direction and choreography by two-time Tony® Award-winner Jerry Mitchell (Legally Blonde, Hairspray), Kinky Boots is the winner of every major Best Musical award including three Olivier Awards, three WhatsOnStage Awards as well as six Broadway Tony® Awards.

KINKY BOOTS is produced by Daryl Roth and Hal Luftig and Playful Productions, in association with Cameron Mackintosh.