Ladies, gentlemen, and those of you who are yet to make up your minds... welcome to my review of Kinky Boots The Musical, a feel good, heartwarming show based on an incredible true story of self belief and acceptance. The show is currently playing at Winter Gardens Blackpool until 12 October 2019, tickets available here. 

When his father passes away, Charlie Price reluctantly returns home to Northampton to take on his failing factory. Orders are being cancelled, business is looking bleak, and jobs are on the line, until a chance encounter with glamorous drag queen Lola leads Charlie to make kinky boots to withhold the weight of her and her angels. With the Milan trade show his chance to prove himself, can Charlie come through for the factory and his friends?

Despite being written by 80s queen Cyndi Lauper, the majority of songs were no Defying Gravity, but then again, even Elphaba would have a hard time belting out lines about brogues. 

Lola's songs, on the other hand, were brilliant, with a sexy dance feel to most of them, and a real Whitney-style diva vibe to Hold Me In Your Heart. Kayi Ushe blew me away with Lola's powerful numbers and softer songs alike. Joel Harper-Jackson also hit the higher notes and key changes beautifully, and their harmony together was a highlight of the performance for me.

The Set

The set design for Kinky Boots really caught my attention, with simple industrial pieces switching to suit every scene. I particularly loved that the factory's conveyor belt split into pieces and became a central prop for the dance routine in Everybody Say Yeah, reflecting the change and fast pace the factory was undertaking as it prepared for their new line of boots and the Milan show.

In the film factory lout Don challenges Lola to an arm wrestle but Playful Productions wisely changed this to a boxing match for the musical, which is much easier for the whole audience to see and appreciate. 

The set became a boxing ring with just two pieces of rope across the central unit, and the lighting quickly flashed to imitate photography while the actors performed the show in slow motion. It was a clever, engaging way to illustrate the scene, and both the set and lighting design coloured me impressed.

Speaking of fast pace, the angels' dance routines were certainly that. Half incredible choreography, half acrobatic display, they brought so much fun and sparkle to Kinky Boots The Musical. I can honestly say this is the first show I've seen where my jaw has literally dropped, when one angel leapt high and landed in a perfect box split!

I was astounded to learn after the show that the actors playing the Angels are not full time drag performers, because they pulled it off perfectly, with help from their amazing makeup and costumes. The budget for sequins and gems in this production must have run into the thousands!

Whether in sequins as Lola or suited as Simon, Kayi Ushe was a stand out for me. The script was very similar to the film, in which Chiwetel Ejiofor portrays Lola, so it would be easy to compare the two, but Ushe developed the character for the stage beautifully, exaggerating her words and actions so she really was a larger than life queen strutting before our eyes.

Every character had an element of comedy, which is partly what made the musical so fun to watch, it felt like the audience were invited into the factory banter. The only performance that jarred for me was factory worker/Charlie's love interest, Lauren, portrayed by Paula Lane. 

Having seen Lane in Coronation Street I don't doubt her talent, but the character and her songs just seemed very awkward and pantomime-esque. Maybe it was the direction, or perhaps the fact I've never been to Northampton, where the musical is set, but I struggled to understand why her accent was different to the rest of the cast, too. 

Kinky Boots is one of my favourite films, and I really hoped that seeing it sexed up on stage with tonnes of songs and sequins would live up to it. I'm happy to report that it did, and every piece of the performance tied together to create the perfect feel good show about acceptance and courage.

I had my own lesson in acceptance too, when I looked around and saw all kinds of people in the audience. I had wrongly assumed that middle aged men wouldn't be the target audience, but my dad came along and loved every minute just like the rest of the crowd, who packed out the seats and filled the room with roaring applause. 

Have you seen Kinky Boots The Musical?

The Dungeons are a group of educational, interactive shows set in well, you guessed it, dungeons around the world, bringing the darkest stories from history to life. Most of them are in big cities like London, Berlin, and Shanghai, but I'm very proud to say that here in Lancashire we have our very own Blackpool Tower Dungeon.

My tickets to The Dungeons were compensated in exchange for honest review.

Please be aware that there may be some spoilers in this post, so if you're brave enough to dive in to The Dungeons blind feel free to hop over to my other Blackpool recommendations, but if you'd like a heads up before you head in, carry on reading.

Immersed in dimly lit tunnels where strange sights and sounds wait around every corner, you can easily forget you're just minutes away from a massive Primark, and a few floors from The Blackpool Tower Ballroom!

Every room sets the scene perfectly, from the doctor's office where you'll feel your skin crawl with leeches, to the Captain's secret cove. Your adrenaline will surge as the lights go out and you wait in suspense to see if you'll make it into his smuggling crew. 

While nothing actually touches you or puts you in danger, The Dungeons are full of clever tricks to keep you on your toes and ramp up your heart rate. Lights will drop, creatures will jump, and somewhere through the tour you'll lose yourself in a smoky mirror maze.

The creatures, as they are called by the tour guide, are the leaders who will show and tell their part of history. Meet the doctor, his assistant, and their leeches as they attempt to cure the plague, Judge Blackheart who will decide if you hang, and the torturer of Lancaster Castle who really does not like Yorkshire folk. 

Despite repeating their lines multiple times a day, the actors don't hold back on making their creature characters as horrible and intimidating as possible. Think awkward eye contact, sudden movements, and the creepiest of smiles to really put you on the edge.

At The Dungeons, you are part of the experience, so be prepared to answer their questions and do as they say- or else. This is what makes it so much fun, especially for your friends and family as they watch you squirm.

Congratulations, you've survived the tour! Commiserations, you've been found guilty of being part of the infamous Pendle witches, and must hang for your crimes. If you pass the safety checks you'll be ushered to your death by an executioner and strapped firmly into a row of seats. 

Your heart rate will rise with the seats as they're cranked higher and higher in a dark room, until a fiery Viking face speaks the last words you will hear, and your body suddenly drops back down to the floor with a rush of cold air. 

It's exhilarating, it's frightening, and it's absolutely hilarious- though perhaps not as much as the souvenir photos that are snapped halfway through your fall. 

You might need a stiff drink after that shock, and luckily there is a licensed pub on site where the staff stay in character and can tell you the latest scandals and gossip of 1896. Stop by the souvenir gift shop, then raise a glass to making it out of The Dungeons alive.

I'd recommend a trip to The Blackpool Tower Dungeons to anyone, even big scaredy cats like me! The idea is that the fear adds to the fun, so you'll jump, shriek, and scream, but laugh a lot, too. There are one or two slightly cheeky jokes, but aside from that it's great for couples, friend, and even families, with a recommended age of 8 for younger visits. 

The Setting

The Blackpool Tower Ballroom is famously the big location on Strictly Come Dancing every year, and always looks amazing, but it's even better in person. While the cameras keep all eyes on the dancefloor, I was able to look around to the gallery and the grand, decorated ceiling that has overlooked thousands of dances in its time. 

It's a lovely piece of Lancashire's history and tourism, and a luxurious place to enjoy afternoon tea. The talented organists who play the Wurlitzer live from centre stage boost the atmosphere even further. Between them and the dancers, it really felt like stepping back to a time when dances were the place to be.

The Dancers

I stepped into the ballroom under the impression that any of the diners could get up and give the dancing a go. What I wasn't expecting was a dancefloor full of couples who knew every song and step, and performed them perfectly! 

While I felt way too shy to join in alongside such brilliant dancers, I was more than happy to sit and watch them glide around the floor. Some of them looked to be in their 80s and it was obvious from their elegance that these were dances they practised and perfected over many years. 

I'm not ashamed to say I had a little tear in my eye watching them sway and step in perfect rhythm, it made for such a special experience and I'm very grateful to them for that. It has definitely made me appreciate the art of dancing more, and I have a newfound respect for the Strictly celebs who learn these dances so quickly!

The Service

Every member of staff I met at The Blackpool Tower was efficient, friendly, and just wonderful. It felt like they genuinely enjoyed their jobs, and they really helped to enhance our visit. 

Francis greeted us with the warmest welcome at the door, before Leia showed us to our seats. Once we were settled our server, Bethany, introduced herself, took our drinks order, and checked over our dietary preferences, advising us to let her know if there was anything we didn't like so she could change it. 

We also had the pleasure of meeting Maggie, who kindly took some snaps of us from different angles, and was always smiling when we saw her.

The Food

Unfortunately the low point of our visit was the afternoon tea itself. Perhaps I've been spoilt by other teas I've tried, but it was a little lacklustre, especially against the grandeur of the setting. 

The sandwiches were egg mayonnaise, tuna mayonnaise, cream cheese and cucumber, and ham and cheddar, and they were fine but could have benefited from a garnish of salad or a few crisps as they looked very plain on the plate.

The scone tier was much better, with large scones full of cherries, and ample cream and jam alongside them. 

Usually the cake tier is my favourite, but I wasn't impressed with the selection in the ballroom. There was a small square of rich chocolate brownie, a slice of Victoria sponge, and a berry coulis topped with synthetic cream. With jam and cream on the scone, sponge, and coulis dessert, the flavours just became repetitive and the afternoon tea would have benefited from more variety. 

Both the Victoria sponge and dessert were in plastic packaging too, which suggested to me that they were bought from a food company rather than prepared fresh. I appreciate the ballroom may not have a full kitchen, but perhaps they could work with a local supplier to bring in fresh, higher quality food for their teas. 

The Experience

While you can eat better afternoon teas elsewhere, it would be difficult to find one in a setting better than The Blackpool Tower Ballroom. It must have been breathtaking when it first opened in 1894, and it's still spectacular now. 

You can buy tickets to visit the ballroom without having afternoon tea, so whether you're a dancer, history buff, or Strictly Come Dancing superfan, I would recommend booking in to see it for yourself.

My tickets to Madame Tussauds Blackpool were provided in exchange for honest review.

SETTING

It's no secret that we get more than our fair share of rain in the North West, so indoor attractions are always appreciated, and Madam Tussauds Blackpool is one that truly does offer something for all the family.

At £18 for adult tickets, Madame Tussauds isn't the cheapest attraction, but there are lots of deals around to lower the price. If you park on Blackpool Central car park, check the back for money off, or book online for reduced entry and discount bundles on other Merlin venues, like Sea Life Blackpool.

Another tip for booking is to opt for a weekday if you can to allow plenty of time and space to really make the most of your visit and take plenty of pictures.

THE CHARACTERS

Whether you want to rock out with iconic musicians, marvel at the superheroes, admire the athletes, or go behind the scenes with TV, comedy, and movie stars, Madame Tussauds offers areas for everyone, and there were actually more models than I had anticipated.

Some of my favourites included boxer Nicola Adams, Alan Carr, and Groot, but I found that even the people I wouldn't ordinarily be drawn to were made interesting by the facts or interaction around them, like lockers in the football room that showed the players' lucky charms, and a screen playing a film on astrology in Professor Brian Cox's room.

It was great to see a section on how the models are made, too, starting life as a wire frame and being built right up into a realistic person. Each wrinkle in the lips is handpainted, every individual hair placed on their heads. The wax figures are even treated to a regular refresh and hair wash to keep those details perfect.

THE MUSIC ROOM

This was my favourite part of all, as I think fellow visitors guessed when they heard me shout "Freddie!" upon spotting my idol, Mr Mercury. He shares a stage with Shirley Bassey and MJ, while Britney Spears and Tom Jones hang out with Sid Vicious on the other side of the room and The Beatles strolled across a recreation of Abbey Road.

After striking a few poses with my beloved, I hopped into the sound booths where you can pop on some soundproof headphones, select your favourite track from the era of that booth, and- if you're bold enough- have a boogie.

THE ROVERS RETURN

Being so close to Manchester, where Coronation Street is filmed, it's only fitting that Madame Tussauds has its very own recreation of the street's much loved pub. It's actually licenced and has its own bar staff too, so you can have a beer with Deirdre Barlow using special MT tokens!

MARVEL SUPERHEROES
Little ones and big kids at heart will love meeting the Marvel superheroes! Start your journey by registering your handprint in, then you're ready to join the team.

Take your chance to get close to Thor,
flex your muscles as you lift a taxi with The Hulk or take flight with Iron Man, who cleverly has a screen behind him showing moving footage, so it looks like you are lifting off together.

INTERACTION

When I visited Madame Tussauds London a few years ago, the only interaction I remember is actors jumping out and spooking me, so I expected the same from Blackpool, but I'm very pleased to say that there was no fright, just fun in all areas of the attraction.

Instead of just looking at the models, visitors are invited to get more physically involved, from hopping on Elliot's bike with ET, to scoring goals in the football room, to ducking and diving in the laser maze. I surprised my family and myself by coming top of the leaderboard- 414 is the score to beat!

ACCESSIBILITY

I was really pleased to see that disabled guests can fully enjoy Madame Tussauds, with lifts for access and plenty of room to navigate wheelchairs and powerchairs around. In the music exhibit where Olly Murs is onstage, there is even a ramp around the back so visitors can sit right beside him.

It was also nice to note that the mirror maze had a bypass so that children or sensory impaired guests could choose a calmer route if the mirrors would be stressful for them.

SOUVENIRS

As you explore the exhibits there are paid photo opportunities that use props and/or the magic of green screen to create souvenir pictures of your visit- for example, you can try on Tom Baker's classic stripy Doctor Who scarf and see yourself with Sonic Screwdriver in hand.

For more mementos, the gift shop has everything you could imagine, and you can even make your own wax hand as the perfect reminder of your day.

OVERALL

Madame Tussauds Blackpool exceeded my expectations. We were there for a good hour and a half and both myself and my parents really enjoyed our visit, proving that it suits almost all ages. I probably wouldn't advise it for very young children who wouldn't really 'get' it or could find the models alarming, but primary school children and up will have a blast meeting their favourite superheroes and spotting celebs.

There are so many touches that help to bring it to life (in the least creepy way possible!) and more than once I did find myself expecting a wax figure to move or wink due to the level of skill and detail that goes into every face. Come rain or shine. I'd definitely recommend visiting them for yourself.

Have you been to a Madame Tussauds before?