Jerry Mitchell: Up close and personal with the man behind Kinky Boots at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

As the award-winning Kinky Boots wows the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre this October, I was keen to explore the creative force behind the show and discover just how you take the tale of a floundering footwear factory, saved by the production of boots with reinforced heels for drag queens and cross dressers and turn it into a Broadway best seller and a West End winner.

Enter the incomparable director and choreographer, Jerry Mitchell, who I was lucky enough to chat to about the concept of the show.

Now let's get one thing clear; this man is a creative genius. His has a very impressive pedigree, with a host of Broadway productions under his belt, including Jekyll and Hyde, Legally Blonde, The Full Monty, Grease, Hairspray and Love Never Dies to name but a few. The list is endless and remember he has been there, done it and worn the T-shirt, having also been a performer on the big white way himself.

Throw in a Tony award for his 2005 production of La Cage Aux Folles and Mr Mitchell is the obvious and perfect choice to bring this bootilicious tale of acceptance, love and determination to the stage.

We talked about the current UK tour.

"It's a fabulous cast and Callum Francis who plays Lola is quite phenomenal," said Jerry. "He won the Helpmann Award in Australia. He is English and was the understudy for the West End show, but I took him to Australia with me. It is a wonderful cast of actors, " he said.

"I don't want to give too much away, but the audiences are jumping to their feet," Jerry continued."

"The show has a really heartfelt message which seems to resonate no matter where it plays," he said. "I've been traveling all over the world with Kinky Boots and the reaction is exactly the same, no matter where we go and no matter what language it's in."

Kinky Boots is based on a true story; always the best vehicle for a theatre script and the score is witty, thought-provoking, dramatic and uplifting.

See also:

• Kinky Boots, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre - review with pictures

Jerry continued, "It's about accepting yourself and then you can accept others too. It's so truthful and about how we become adults and how we thrive; we have to accept ourselves."

"There's a lot in the story which relates to Lola and Charlie and their fathers and how they overcame the negatives. Audiences will see all ends of the spectrum and will find a character they can relate to. As a director I always like to find the truth in a character because the truth is what everyone is searching for," he said.

There are two lead male roles in the show; Charlie, who inherits the shoe factory and reluctantly sets about keeping his father's legacy alive and the fabulously outrageous drag queen, Lola, who opens the door to the whole new world of Kinky Boots!

I could tell from the affection he displays when talking about the iconic role of Lola, she is very close to Jerry's heart, so when casting this special character, what does Jerry look for?

"Whoever plays Lola has to have an exceptional singing voice because the songs are written high, and I look for someone who understands the difference between being vulnerable and being fabulous," he told me.

"Being able to dance in six-inch heels is always part of the audition process," Jerry said. "That's always a challenge for anyone!"

The boots throughout the show are "bootiful" of course, but Jerry admitted: "Lola has a pair of shoes in the number The Sex is in the Heel, and those are my favourite."

Lola is flanked by her a bevy of drag queen beauties known as The Angels, who kick up a storm throughout the show.

"They dance around in these shoes and you think Oh My God! They really are good," he laughed. "We've had some injuries but only minor, except for one broken ankle on Broadway." Not bad going considering.

I then asked Jerry a tough one; who has been his favourite Lola?

Iconic

"Oh gosh, that's an impossible question because I love them all and I think each of them has brought something unique to the role, but I must say that creating the role with Billy Porter in America, when we first started the process is full of so many memories and so many wonderful experiences that this was a highlight as a director for me and to work with Billy on developing this character that's become so iconic and that so many other wonderful actors have been able to play the part and win awards for, is very special," Jerry told me.

He continued "The show will go on for many, many years and hundreds of people will go on to play this part."

I wondered how Broadway differs from the West End and was thrilled to find that Jerry is always keen to give us Brits exciting opportunities.

"I've had so many shows on the West End and have worked with some wonderful actors," he said. "I find that the quality of the actors and the productions is not that different and that is why I love to be able to use English actors in America and American actors in England. I think the bridges are becoming much shorter."

Musical theatre on Broadway however is like nowhere else in the world and so giving actors including a Jenna Russell, Killian Donnelley and Samantha Barks, who is about to star in one of Jerry's new projects, a musical version of Pretty Woman, the chance to cross the pond is a huge boost to their confidence and careers and for that Mr Mitchell, we thank you.

This humble yet superbly talented man still admires others though, including British choreographer Kate Prince.

"I have seen a couple of her things that I thought were fantastic; I loved her stuff," he said. "I'm really a fan of her work." Praise indeed.

In summing up, I asked Jerry for his philosophy on life.

"Every day is a gift; we all have the same 24 hours and what we choose to do with it is up to us, so use the time you are given and don't waste one second!" said Jerry.

Wise words from a wonderfully warm and engaging man.

For tickets for Kinky Boots at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, call 01902 429212 or visit grandtheatre.co.uk