The hit musical Kinky Boots has officially celebrated its West End opening with a star-studded Gala Night at the London Coliseum.
The special event took place on Sunday 29 March 2026, held in support of the international charity WaterAid. A host of celebrities turned out to celebrate the production, which stars Strictly Come Dancing favourite Johannes Radebe and The X Factor winner Matt Cardle.
The production is now playing a strictly limited 17-week season in London, running until 11 July 2026.
Book tickets to Kinky Boots The Musical at the London Coliseum
Photos: Kinky Boots gala opening
Take a look at red carpet arrival photos, and curtain call pics, with celebrities in attendance including talk show legend Graham Norton, West End royalty Michael Ball, and ER star Alex Kingston.
Photos by Dave Benett
The Strictly Come Dancing family turned out in high numbers to cheer on Johannes Radebe, with appearances from Bruno Tonioli, Arlene Phillips, Amy Dowden, Ellie Goldstein, Carlos Gu, Annabel Croft, Jay McGuiness, Ore Oduba, Faye Tozer, and Montell Douglas.
Other notable guests from the world of entertainment included Christopher Biggins, Claire Sweeney, Dr Ranj Singh, Joe McElderry, Rosie Jones, Lucrezia Millarini, Millie O’Connell, and The Traitors star Diane Carson.
Drag royalty was also well represented by Vanity Milan, Elektra Fence, Kyran Thrax and La Voix, alongside Steve Pateman, the real-life inspiration behind the Kinky Boots story.
A powerhouse cast
Johannes Radebe leads the company as the iconic drag queen Lola, marking his debut in the Tony and Olivier Award-winning role. He stars alongside Matt Cardle (& Juliet) as Charlie Price and Courtney Bowman (SIX) as Lauren.
From 6 April, Tosh Wanogho-Maud (Titanique) will take over the role of Lola for Monday night performances.
The principal cast is completed by:
- Billie-Kay (Burlesque) as Nicola
- Billy Roberts (Military Wives the Musical) as Don
- Rachel Izen (Funny Girl) as Pat
- Jessica Daley (I Should Be So Lucky) as Trish
- Jonathan Dryden Taylor (The Wizard of Oz) as Mr Price
- Scott Paige (The Great British Bake Off The Musical) as George
- Liam Doyle (Heathers) as Harry
A major new production
Directed by Nikolai Foster (Artistic Director of Curve Leicester), this new staging of the Cyndi Lauper and Harvey Fierstein musical arrives in London following a successful UK and Ireland tour.
Based on the 2005 film starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Kinky Boots originally premiered on Broadway in 2013 and enjoyed a hit four-year run at London’s Adelphi Theatre from 2015 to 2019.
View live availability for Kinky Boots The Musical tickets
Plan your show visit
- Theatre: London Coliseum, St Martin’s Lane, London
- Booking dates: 17 March to 11 July 2026
- Running time: 2 hours 15 minutes (including interval)
- Age range: Recommended for ages 8+
Discover what’s currently playing in London and book tickets to the latest West End musicals.
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