Edit (December 2017): If this is the first post of mine you’ve read, I advise you to back away slowly. This was not only my first blog post but my first theatre review, before I even really knew what a theatre review was. I strongly advise you to check out my more recent stagey posts instead, but… if you must read it, do take it with a pinch of salt, and try not to cringe as much as I just did reading it back. Although I regret nothing in terms of the fangirling: I do love me some Kinky Boots.

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Before I start writing about the upcoming shows I’ll be seeing in 2017, I HAVE to talk about Kinky Boots. I got to see this show in December 2016, so consider this a Throwback Thursday. That’s a thing that people do, right…?

Kinky Boots had been at the top of my mental must-see list for a couple of years, so getting tickets for my birthday in November was a Huge Deal and I honestly couldn’t believe it. I don’t get to go to London too often due to my health and travel and ticket expenses and so on, so to have a trip to Covent Garden at Christmas (eek) and lunch with friends, topped off with seeing an amazing show on the West End, was incredible.

I wasn’t disappointed. The thing that made Kinky Boots stand out to me was the undisputed message that it’s completely okay to be who you are, regardless of what other people think. It highlighted the extreme nature of prejudice against LGBTQ+ people, or in fact any people who are different, and just how damaging thoughtless words and actions can be. It showed how much courage it can take to simply exist as yourself in today’s society. Taking such important messages like that and combining them with sassy one liners, gorgeous drag queens and an abundance of glitter is a game-changer. I don’t believe that any person in the audience, no matter how aware they already were, didn’t have their eyes opened just a little more by this show. The choreography, costuming, and the production in it’s entirety just worked, and the whole performance seemed to fly by.

I am officially obsessed with the character of Lauren, flawlessly played by Elena Skye. I’m sure any woman who hears ‘The History of Wrong Guys’ would struggle NOT to find it relatable on some level, but it made my life complete. In fact, the entire soundtrack made my life complete. If I was able-bodied, ‘Raise You Up’ would have me booty shaking and catwalk strutting around my bedroom for approximately 90% of my free time but since I’m not, dramatic hair flicking and jazz hands are almost just as satisfying. Even if you’re not a show person or haven’t seen Kinky Boots, I can guarantee the original West End recording of that song (the album is on Spotify) will give you that lovely glowing feeling in your belly for the rest of your day.

I’m not exaggerating when I say that since seeing Kinky Boots in December, I’ve thought about it at least once a day ever since. It’s the kind of thing that stays with you, and I believe that would be the true even for somebody who wasn’t a huge musical super fan. So, in case I haven’t stressed this enough, I love this show. It’s the only one of my all-time favourites (so far) that hasn’t made me cry, and that’s simply because the whole thing was so uplifting that I’m pretty sure my face looked like the heart-eyes emoji. Possibly combined with the one that’s drooling a little bit.

10/10… everybody needs to see this show at some point in their lives.