Inspiration behind 'Kinky Boots' invited to MTS rehearsal

Kinky Boots tells the story of character “Charlie Price” who has reluctantly inherited his father's shoe factory, which is on the verge of bankruptcy.

Trying to live up to his father's legacy and save his family business, Charlie finds inspiration in the form of Lola – a fabulous entertainer in need of some sturdy stilettos, and Lola turns out to be the one person who can help Charlie become the man he's meant to be.

Tickets start from £15 and are available from the Wiltshire Creative Box Office 01722 320 333, or visit wiltshirecreative.co.uk/events/kinky-boots

The musical debuted on Broadway in 2013, after the film was released in 2005.

Steve Pateman, the “real life Charlie Price”, came to a rehearsal on Thursday, May 16.

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He shared the story behind Kinky Boots, from running his family's shoe factory in Earls Barton, Northamptonshire, to it becoming a major box-office hit and multi Tony award-winning musical with music by Cyndi Lauper.

He has since written a book called “The Boss in Boots” which tells the story about his life as the inspiration behind the show.

The cast and crew with Steve Pateman (Image: Musical Theatre Salisbury)

The author spent over two hours with the group, starting with a talk about “Trouble at the Top”, a BBC 2 documentary.

The documentary series focused on business failings or disputes between business people, and one episode, about Steve's family Northamptonshire shoe factory, inspired the film starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Nick Frost and Joel Edgerton.

This was followed by a question-and-answer session and book signing, before watching their evening’s rehearsal.

MTS describe their show as: “an exhilarating true story about a struggling shoe factory that will lift your spirits to high-heeled heights!”

The show runs from Tuesday, June 25 – Saturday, June 29, at Salisbury Playhouse.