Strictly Come Dancing star Johannes Radebe is set to make his West End debut as drag queen Lola in the return of the musical Kinky Boots to London. The South African dancer, who joined the cast earlier this year, will perform at the London Coliseum in 2026.
The Olivier and Tony award-winning musical tells the story of Charlie Price, who inherits his family's failing shoe factory and creates a line of high-heeled boots after meeting cabaret performer Lola. Radebe, 37, said playing Lola was the only role he ever wanted.
Radebe, who reached the Strictly final in 2021 with John Whaite as the show's first all-male couple, said: 'I left my township in Zamdela at the age of 21 to dance in the ensemble on a cruise ship. Never then, nor since then, was it in my wildest dreams that I would have the opportunity to star in a musical in London's West End.'
Composer and lyricist Cyndi Lauper said: 'I'm so thrilled that Kinky Boots is returning home to London. When audiences leave the show, they feel happy and uplifted, and that's something the world could really use right now.'
The London production will run for 17 weeks from March 17 to July 11, 2026, with tickets on sale from July 15 this year. The show is currently touring the UK and Ireland.
