Last Updated on 24 March 2022 by Showcall Editorial Team
The New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich and Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch in London are to stage a new production of musical Kinky Boots directed by Tim Jackson
Hit musical Kinky Boots is to be revived in a new production by the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich and Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch in east London.
Directed by Tim Jackson, it 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.
The new production will run at the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich from 1 to 24 September 2022 and then Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch from 28 September to 22 October.
Based on the 2005 film, the musical adaptation features a Tony-Award nominated book by Harvey Fierstein and Tony and Grammy award-winning music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper.
The cast and full creative team will be announced at a later date.
The new production sees Jackson reunite with the two theatres, having previously choregraphed their revival of the musical, Made in Dagenham.
He is also staging the upcoming 2022 Olivier Awards ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall in London and will choreograph Merrily We Roll Along, directed by Maria Friedman and starring Daniel Radcliffe, at New York Theater Workshop later this year.
Jackson said: “I’m thrilled to be directing the first UK revival of this fabulous musical. It’s a show that’s got it all: big laughs, a banging pop score and an uplifting story about community, identity and embracing ourselves and each other.
“Ten years since it took the world by storm, I’m relishing the opportunity to re-explore Kinky Boots in a brand-new production for a new generation.
“The piece remains as potent as ever, and I cannot wait to join audiences in celebrating our beautiful kaleidoscope of a world.”
Mathew Russell, executive director of Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch (QTH), added: “We’re thrilled to be working with the New Wolsey Theatre again after a string of brilliant co-productions including our acclaimed actor-musician versions of Made in Dagenham and Once, which we were able to tour together too.
“We’re equally excited that QTH’s new creative associate, Tim Jackson, will be directing, and know that he and the team will do a great job of making a fresh, warm-hearted, sassy and gloriously working-class take on this hit show, which we’re sure audiences are going to adore.”
Douglas Rintoul, formerly artistic director of Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch and now chief executive of the New Wolsey Theatre, said: “I can’t think of a better way to mark the start of my new role at the New Wolsey Theatre than with this very special regional premiere.
“Made by my favourite theatres, and directed by a supremely talented director, Kinky Boots is going to be a smart and gloriously uplifting night out.”
The original production of Kinky Boots was directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell. Set in Northampton in England, it follows Charlie Price who tries to save the struggling shoe business that he has inherited from his dad. He meets drag queen Lola who is looking for some sturdy stilettos and it results in an unlikely partnership.
