Kinky Boots strut into Wolverhampton ahead of opening night at Grand Theatre - in pictures
The famous red heels from hit musical Kinky Boots strutted straight from the Land Of Lola to Wolverhampton ahead of opening night at the Grand Theatre in October.
Lola’s Kinky Boots came to the Express & Star offices on their travels, as well as making stops at Debenhams in the Mander Centre, Royston Blythe Salon, Blooms Menswear, Oldies Unlimited Rare Records Shop, Timpsons, The Hungry Bistro, Natty Antiques, Wolverhampton Market, Light House Cinema and Media Centre, Molineux Stadium and Carvers Building Supplies.
The iconic footwear also visited Wolverhampton Boot Factory – less than half a mile from the Grand Theatre.
The Wolverhampton boot and shoe manufacturing company was originally founded in 1850 by James Baker. The business started out producing industrial footwear, but later moved to the production of ladies' and gentlemen’s' boots and shoes.
Just like in the Kinky Boots story where Charlie Price inherits his father’s Northampton shoe factory, on James Baker's death, the Wolverhampton business Baker’s Boot Factory passed down to his two sons, T. G and W. P. Baker. The building is now home to the LearnPlay Foundation.
Press and PR manager at the Grand Theatre, Scott Bird, said the Wolverhampton Boot Factory was an exciting find.
"Whilst boot production ended in the 1970s, the building still looks incredibly like the Price & Son factory in the musical today," he continued.
"It has been wonderful to uncover a history to Wolverhampton that is so closely matched to Northampton’s where the Kinky Boots story is set.
"We’ve painted the town red and Wolverhampton can’t wait to welcome the show here in October.”
The award-winning production is set to star Callum Francis, Paula Lane and Joel Harper-Jackson.
Inspired by true events, it tells the tale of Charlie Price, a young boy struggling to live up to his father's expectation and continue the family business of Price & Son.
With the shoe factory's future hanging in the balance, help arrives in the unlikely but spectacular form of a fabulous performer in need of some study new stilettos called Lola.
The show is a winner of every major Best Musical award and is being directed and choreographed by two-time Tony Award-winner Jerry Mitchell for Legally Blonde and Hairspray, and produced by Daryl Roth and and Hal Luftig and Playful Productions, in association with Cameron Mackintosh.
It has won three Olivier Awards for Best New Musical, Best Costume Design and Best Actor in a Musical for Matt Henry who played Lola at the Adelphi Theatre.
It will be performed from October 16 to 27. Evenings will take place from 7.30pm, while Wednesday and Saturday matinees are on at 2.30pm.
For more information or to buy tickets, click here
