Stage Meets Spice: Kinky Boots x Colonel Saab

Lifestyle

Fresh from a triumphant win at this year’s Laurence Olivier Awards, the West End sensation Kinky Boots had everyone talking. From lead actor Johannes Radebe's blood-red acrylics on the night to its flamboyant return to the West End with an electrifying red carpet, the production has once again injected the city with the very spirit of fun and razzle-dazzle it is known for.

Yet, the collaboration no one quite anticipated comes courtesy of Colonel Saab. At first glance, these two institutions might seem worlds apart within London’s cultural landscape, but in practice, the pairing unfolds with surprising harmony, and we understood the assignment, being among the first to experience it.

At its core, Kinky Boots is a story of belonging, triumph, courage, and unapologetic self-expression. Colonel Saab, meanwhile, tells a different yet complementary story; one of heritage, travel, and a rich tapestry of South Asian culture. What binds them is a shared narrative of identity and belonging, proving that even the most unexpected collaborations can strike a resonant and meaningful chord.

Before the first course arrives, Colonel Saab makes its intentions clear through design alone. You are greeted by a striking silver Ganesha at the entrance—an emblem long associated with protection, prosperity, and the removal of obstacles. It’s a quiet but deliberate introduction, setting a tone that feels both reverent and deeply personal.

Inside, the restaurant unfolds less like a conventional West End dining room and more like a living archive. The owner's (Roop Partap) family history is woven into every corner: photographs of his parents on their travels, snapshots of a childhood shaped by movement, as the son of a military family, sit alongside richly textured tapestries, antique temple doors, and ceremonial swords. These are not decorative afterthoughts; they carry weight, memory, and a sense of lineage.

The effect is immersive without being overwhelming. There’s an intimacy to the space that aligns with the West End’s appetite for storytelling, yet it avoids theatrical excess. Instead, it feels layered and intentional, heritage presented not as spectacle, but as something lived-in and quietly celebrated.

In the context of its collaboration with Kinky Boots, the setting becomes even more resonant. Just as the production explores identity and self-expression, the interiors here reflect a journey of culture, memory, and belonging, proving that design, much like food, can tell a story that lingers long after you leave.

The transition from table to theatre feels almost seamless. At the West End, Kinky Boots returns with a renewed sense of purpose, less a revival, more a reassertion of its cultural relevance. The energy is immediate. From the opening number, there’s a confidence that doesn’t feel forced; it’s earned, sharpened by time and an audience that understands exactly what it has come for.

At its centre, the story still resonates: one of unlikely partnership, identity, and the quiet courage it takes to step into oneself. The performances lean into this with nuance rather than caricature. There is, of course, spectacle; towering heels, high-shine costumes, choreography that lands with precision, but what lingers are the smaller moments. A pause, a glance, a note held just slightly longer than expected. It’s in these details that the production finds its intimacy.

The score remains as infectious as ever, with numbers like “Everybody Say Yeah” and “Raise You Up” delivering their expected impact, but it’s the emotional undercurrent that elevates this iteration. There’s a maturity to it now, a sense that the show is not simply entertaining, but reflecting. Identity here is not performed for applause alone; it’s explored, questioned, and ultimately celebrated without compromise.

Closing the evening, the collaboration between Colonel Saab and Kinky Boots reveals itself as more than a clever pairing. It is a study in storytelling across mediums, plate, space, and stage, each reinforcing the other’s narrative. In a city saturated with experiences vying for attention, this one feels considered. Intimate, even. A reminder that when done thoughtfully, indulgence can still carry meaning.

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Words by Jheanelle Feanny