Letterkenny Musical Society's Kinky Boots

A positive galaxy of Derry stars will shortly grace the stage of An Grianán Theatre for Letterkenny Musical Society’s production of ‘Kinky Boots’.

The already sold-out show runs from Tuesday, March 7 until Saturday, March 11.

‘Kinky Boots’, written by Cyndi Lauper, of ‘Girls Just Want To Have Fun’ and ‘Time After Time’ fame, tells the story of Charlie Price.

Having inherited a shoe factory from his father, Charlie forms an unlikely partnership with cabaret performer and drag queen, Lola, to produce a line of high-heeled boots and save the business.

Derry’s Kieran Connor is playing Charlie and Orfhlaith McGee, also from the city, is playing Nicola, Charlie’s financée. 

Completing the talented trio is William McFadden, from Belmont, who is starring as the larger than life, Lola. 

Speaking to Derry News before curtain up, William described ‘Kinky Boots’ rehearsals as “amazing”.

“The cast of 30 is the strongest I have ever been part of,” said William. “Everybody is so committed. There is so much energy. Every time you go to rehearsals, everybody is just buzzing.

“The chorus is fantastic. All of the individual characters are coming out. It has been a brilliant experience. It is going to be a great show. I can’t wait for opening night.”

A former pupil of Lumen Christi College, William was taught singing by Michelle McLaughlin and speech and drama by Sandra Biddle back in the day.

“I was involved in loads of shows when I was younger,” he said. “I did shows with Margaret Keys and with the Millennium Youth Group and Jonathan Burgess. However, when it got to crunch time with exams, I just thought, ‘I don’t have time for this anymore’.

“I actually fell away from all things performing arts when I was doing my GCSEs. 

“Then, being a complete homebird, I moved back to Derry from Belfast in 2016, after a brief spell at Queen’s and discovered that radio station Drive 105 was hosting a singing competition, called the Drive Factor, to raise money for the station. 

“That made me think about singing and performing again. I felt comfortable and got offered gigs in bars. I didn’t want to do them on my own so I teamed up with Caitlin McCallion, a friend of mine who had also been involved in the Drive Factor. We started getting booked and thanks must go to the inimitable Micky Doherty who was a big help to us when we were starting out,” said William.

In those early days as a two piece, William’s mother, Karen, helped Caitlin and himself put their set together.

“We played in Tracy’s, the Dungloe, Bishop’s Creggan, Jacks, The Park Bar and The Collon Bar, everywhere,” said William.

“I remember we rented out the Nerve Centre for our first rehearsal and Micky came up to that to give us a hand. He actually filmed our first rehearsal and loads of people watched it on Facebook. 

“We got loads of work from that. We are still playing together. We’re regulars in the lobby of the City Hotel and we also play at garden parties, weddings and private functions,” laughed William.

Enjoying singing so much, William then auditioned for the part of Ryan in the Grove Theatre Production of ‘High School Musical’.

He and Caitlin were cast as brother and sister, Ryan and Sharpay in the production which, unfortunately,  came to a shuddering halt at the beginning of the pandemic.

William added: “The Grove were eventually able to stage ‘High School Musical’ last year. They had to recast some of the roles because original actors were no longer available. I was working full time by then and gigging as well, so I felt I couldn’t commit to rehearsals.  

“But fate is strange. Lana Campbell, who was a judge on the Drive Factor, was the musical director of ‘High School Musical’. We had always kept in touch and when I met her up the town one day she asked me if I would be one of the singers in the pit, who boost the chorus during the big numbers. 

“I thought it would be a bit of craic, so I went along to rehearsals. Then I discovered there were two Sharpays cast but only one Ryan. Lana asked me if I’d consider playing the other Ryan, so I agreed. I played Ryan to Laura Kelly’s Sharpay.

“I had an absolute ball doing ‘High School Musical’. It was a completely different experience on the stage of a theatre compared to singing at a gig. I fell in love with it during show week. I felt as if I was on the West End. When the week was over, I met my former Lumen music teacher, Mark Bradley, who encouraged me to audition for ‘Kinky Boots,’” said William.
William said as soon as he heard ‘Kinky Boots’ he decided to “go for it”.

“There is no other musical so camp and so me,” he said. “It has been a privilege to work with Letterkenny Musical Society’s director, Maria Rushe; producer, Noel O’Donnell; and musical director, Gerard Bradley.  

“My character, Lola, is a drag queen and a boxer who has had a rough upbringing.  

“Lola is larger than life, camp,  opinionated and outspoken. She advises Charlie to make niche market, glittery, sparkly, boots for men who want to be drag queens.

“The whole show is about acceptance. Essentially, if someone is different they should be accepted. After a few ups and downs, it all ends happily with Lola in Milan debuting the Kinky Boots.”