Harvey Fierstein’s feel-good musical comedy returns to the Lichfield Garrick in glitzy high-heeled style.

Based on the true story of a struggling shoe factory owner in Northampton, ‘Kinky Boots’ started life as a hit film in 2005 starring Joel Edgerton and Chiwetel Ejiofor. It’s the perfect story for a musical and in 2012 the stage version followed with music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper. Sutton Coldfield Musical Theatre Company, directed by Kerrie Penrice, rise to the challenge of staging this heart-warming show, nailing the big numbers thanks to a huge ensemble and hitting home important messages about tolerance, respect and acceptance in strong central performances.

I’ve seen this show several times and what strikes me each time is the power of art, particularly musical theatre, to tackle sensitive and difficult issues. The complex topic of gender identity continues to be used as political football so it’s a welcome relief to see how audiences continue to embrace the story of a drag queen and her quest for the ultimate in sexy, and supportive, footwear.

Patrick Jervis is an amiable Charlie Price, the inheritor of family shoe factory ‘Price & Son’ following his father’s death. Combining the vocal and acting talent required for the role, Jervis has us on-side quickly. He’s torn and struggling to find his place in the world: should he follow in his father’s footsteps and run the factory or escape to London with his fiancée Nicola?

When Charlie meets drag queen royalty Lola, he decides to ditch brogue production and embrace the high-heeled boot, gambling on a kinky niche market to rescue the family firm. Daniel Surj combines sass with an undercurrent of deep insecurity in the role of Lola and looks fantastic in the ‘kinky boots’ which Price & Son start to manufacture for a Milan fashion show. Vocals are strong and there is an endearing chemistry with Jervis’ Charlie as they get to know each other and the parallels in their lives become clearer. The duet ‘Not My Father’s Son’ is a beautifully delivered emotional highlight.

Maggie Jackson’s choreography is slick throughout, particularly in Lola’s numbers with her outrageously dressed drag queen ‘Angels’ and the ensemble nicely bring to life the Northampton factory workers. There’s excellent work from Sarah Jordan as Nicola, Charlie’s fiancée, and Charlotte Jervis comes close to stealing the show as factory worker Lauren, who develops a sudden and unexpected crush on her boss. Her performance of ‘The History of Wrong Guys’ is the comic highlight of the production.

The story explores ‘small town’ prejudice, mainly through the homophobic and transphobic comments of Don, a factory worker who is less than impressed with the footwear now rolling off the production lines. Paul Lumsden is perfectly cast in the role, looking on bemused as his colleagues embrace a change he cannot understand. Lola’s challenge to him – to ‘accept someone for who they are’ – is at the heart of the show’s message.

‘Kinky Boots’ has hit on a winning formula: it’s a great night of musical theatre tackling important issues which manages not to sound preachy. Watching it, it’s hard to imagine why anyone would have a problem with other people choosing to wear whatever they want to wear. It’s a blast and, under Andy Timmins' musical direction and a talented live orchestra, sounds great. Highly recommended.

‘Kinky Boots’ is playing at the Garrick Theatre in Lichfield from 21^st to 25^th May 2024.