Killian Donnelly and Matt Henry will lead the cast of Kinky Boots when the Tony Award-winning musical receives its UK premiere at London’s Adelphi Theatre this September.
Donnelly, whose current role in Memphis The Musical earned him an Olivier Award nomination at this year’s ceremony, will take on the role of Charlie Price, a man struggling to live up to his father’s expectations as the head of the family business.
Henry, whose credits include The Frontline at Shakespeare’s Globe, will don his best stilettos to play sassy performer Lola, who arrives at Charlie’s Northampton shoe factory in need of a new set of fabulous footwear.
They are joined in the Jerry Mitchell-directed production by Amy Ross (Sunny Afternoon), Amy Lennox (Legally Blonde The Musical), Jamie Baughan (Who’s Afraid Of The Big Bad Wolf?, Southwark Playhouse) and Michael Hobbs (Lord Of The Rings).
Completing the cast is former X Factor contestant Marcus Collins alongside Gemma Atkins, Paul Ayers, Emma Crossley, Jeremy Batt, Arun Blair-Mangat, Jordan Fox, Callum Francis, Robert Grose, Gillian Hardie, Chloe Hart, Sophie Isaacs, Luke Jackson, Robert Jones, Adam Lake, Catherine Millsom, Sean Needham, Tim Prottey-Jones, Verity Quade, Javier Santos, Dominic Tribuzio, Alan Vicary, Michael Vinsen and Bleu Woodward.
Talking about today’s casting announcement, director Mitchell said: “Casting the entire London company of Kinky Boots has been an amazing and energizing experience; each character has a true individual significance in this show and that makes it so special.”
Featuring a book by Harvey Fierstein and music by Cyndi Lauper, the big-hearted musical tale of friendship begins previews at the Adelphi Theatre from 21 August before opening to the press on 15 September.