Kinky Boots

An award-winning Broadway musical

Written by Harvey Fierstein with music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper, Kinky Boots is a musical about Charlie, who is approaching thirty and living in a small village, longing for a new life in London. When Charlie’s father suddenly passes away, the reluctant Charlie is made manager of the family’s traditional shoe factory, which starts a struggle for the future of the fading factory. When Charlie meets drag artist Lola, their shared new business idea ignites a desire for change in both of them.

Kinky Boots is about becoming yourself, the fear of the unknown and the possibility of people from different backgrounds finding common ground. Revolving around the fascinating art of drag, the musical proves that there is enormous joy and power to be found in playing with gender. Both ordinary people working in a shoe factory and the stars of a drag show sometimes need bright red glitter boots – we all crave a sense of acceptance and belonging.

Kinky Boots premiered in Chicago in 2012, and when it hit Broadway, it won the 2013 Tony Award for Best Musical. You can’t help but dance when you hear Cyndi Lauper’s music, and her Tony for Kinky Boots was the first one awarded to a female composer.

The musical is directed by the theatre’s artistic director Alma Lehmuskallio, choreographed by Henri Sarajärvi and conducted by Eeva Kontu and Ville Myllykoski. The music is produced in collaboration with MD Company.

A total of 30 performers will be seen on stage, including two children. Actors for the Oulu version were sought through an open audition, and the leading roles of Charlie, Lola and Lauren were grabbed by Väinö Riihimäki, Pekka Hiltunen and Titta Toivanen respectively.

“Kinky Boots combines all the elements of a good show: it’s funny and relatable, but at the same time thought-provoking, making you think about things from a new perspective. The story is very traditional on one hand, and yet also a modern way of seeing the world. It’s difficult to understand why wearing clothes of the ‘opposite’ sex can also arouse hatred. Kinky Boots shows how much freedom a joyful and open-minded approach to different expressions of gender can offer,” says director Lehmuskallio.

The performing rights are managed by Music Theatre International.

Drag often involves dressing up as and immersing yourself in the opposite sex. In most cases, male performers wear women’s clothes, hairstyle and make-up and have a feminine appearance (drag queens), while female performers wear men’s clothes and have a masculine appearance (drag kings).

Shows and tickets

Cast

Musicians

Michael Ford, Sebastian Jeker, Sami Juntunen, Teijo Jämsä, Janne Kiilakoski, Juuso Kiviniemi, Jaakko Konttila, Into Koponen, Katariina Kuure, Petri Kuusela, Heikki Lindström, JP Peltoniemi, Kalle Pääkkönen, Sven Seebeck, Valtteri Tervo ja Tuomas J. Turunen

Team