KINKY Boots, the film, came out in 2005, and was followed by Cyndi Lauper’s multi-award winning musical of the same name in 2012. It has arrived at Yeovil’s Octagon Theatre, performed by the versatile, plucky and very talented Yeovil Amateur Operatic Society – now known more modernly as YAOS Productions – and it’s on until 19th March.

Inspired by a true story, it follows the fortunes of Charlie Price, brought up by his father to follow in his footsteps, literally, as a maker of fine shoes. But by the time Charlie inherits the family business, fashions have changed and men don’t want to wear brogues. Within days of his father’s death, Charlie faces the prospect of sacking all the staff at the Northampton factory. He has to find an alternative, and she sashays into his life in the form of drag queen Lola.

The show chronicles their personal and business relationship as the factory turns its machines to the business of creating a niche product to fill a hole in the market, that of making stiletto-heeled high boots to withstand the strains of male physiques. (You’d hardly get away with it these days!)

Staging the show is a huge challenge for an amateur company, even with a package deal of hired sets and costumes. But YAOS once again proves that there is nothing amateur about its productions. Director Jer-emy Tustin, assisted by  choreographer Sheila Driver and with Kat Stevens in charge of the tight ten-strong band, all that was needed was the cast, and at their centre a performer who could electrify the audience. And they have just that in Carl Holdway-Bradley as Lola. Born in Taunton, this is his Yeovil debut, and no-one who sees him during the two week run will forget it in a hurry.

Matt Parker is Charlie on his rite-of-passage, discovering things he never knew about himself. Strangely, he and several other cast members make a fair stab at an East Midlands accent, but sing with a clear American twang.

Charlie Wood all but stops the show as Lauren, the one we are all rooting for, and  James Cullum’s Don brought bulk and humour to the factory floor.

Kinky Boots is a big, spectacular show, full of heart and passion and pathos and laughter, and YAOS performs it brilliantly. It’s thrilling to see theatres working again, young audiences coming out to see long-established companies and newcomers joining the old stagers to put on fresh shows, and with as much talent as Yeovil remarkably boasts, the future is secure and exciting.

GP-W