Having played Lauren in Kinky Boots in Concert in 2022 at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Courtney Bowman is now set to play Lauren full-time on the UK and Ireland Tour of the brand-new Made at Curve production of Kinky Boots. The musical will open on 17th January at Leicester Curve, booking until 26th July in Oxford, with limited tickets available, and Courtney is directed by Nikolai Foster and working alongside Dan Partridge as Charlie Price, Johannes Radebe as Lola, Newtion Matthews as Alternate Lola and Kara Lily Hayworth as Nicola. In 2022, Courtney took over the role of Kit De Luca in Pretty Woman: The Musical in the West End with Aimie Atkinson as Vivian Ward, and her further stage credits include Elle Woods in Legally Blonde at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Anne Boleyn in SIX the Musical and Fatimah (and cover Pritti) in the original West End cast of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. Last year, Courtney hosted the WhatsOnStage Awards alongside Laurie Kynaston and Billy Nevers, and she made her pantomime debut at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury as the Spirit of the Ring in Aladdin. On screen, Courtney was part of the CBeebies revival of Big Cook, Little Cook playing Little Cook Small opposite Ibinabo Jack as Big Cook Jen. Courtney recently talked to us about her role of Lauren in the upcoming UK and Ireland Tour of Kinky Boots, playing Kit De Luca in Pretty Woman and starring as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre.
You are playing Lauren in the UK and Ireland Tour of Kinky Boots, what are you looking forward to for opening at Leicester Curve on 17th January and taking the show around the country?
I’m looking forward to showing a brand-new version of this production – it’s nothing like the original, which is still brilliant, but making it our own makes it even more special. I also personally am looking forward to going around the UK and Ireland and seeing how each and every audience will react to our version.
How are rehearsals going so far and what is it like being directed by Nikolai Foster?
They are already so much fun, I’m constantly having a laugh with everyone. Which is exactly what I need in a rehearsal space as I feel so much more comfortable in the room to make choices and not feel silly if it’s not quite right in the vision. Plus, Nikolai lets me be me, even when I am getting a bit too silly. Watching him work is fascinating – currently I haven’t got to my song but I’m so excited to see what he has in that brain of his and collaborate from there.
How is it getting into character as Lauren and how have you prepared for the role?
Errrrrm I can’t lie, I’m essentially Lauren so I’ve just turned up to be honest. I’m not a fan of planning ahead, I just like to work with the director together on the spot as it feels more organic and I don’t want to be too stuck in my personal vision as I feel it creatively blocks you.
What was it like meeting the rest of the cast and reading the script for the first time?
I’m lucky enough to to have worked with a fair few members of the company before, and if not I felt like I have or that I’ve known them for a long time, which is a blessing to have in a rehearsal room. Also, since we’ve had our first read through, things have changed but it was so much fun to hear the piece again and to feel the same way I did after seeing it and reading it way back in 2022.
How was it performing as Lauren in Kinky Boots in Concert at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in 2022, and how does it feel to now be taking on the role for the full production?
So different to last time, which is obviously a good thing to me. The production a few years ago was so much fun as we put it up in a week and during the shows when I was off stage I was trying to keep the lines in my brain before going on to do it! But I’m so excited to get my teeth into it and have more time with the part.
With the music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper, how is it performing Lauren’s song The History of Wrong Guys and what was it like performing the song at West End Live?
The song is an absolute bop, and really nice to sing so I really enjoy it. And honestly – West End Live was a blur as I was doing Legally Blonde at the time and had a lot on my plate as Legally Blonde performed the day before and it was my day off when I had to sing for Kinky Boots, but singing with an orchestra, especially LMTO, is always a pleasure. Freddie Tapner is wonderful.
What can audiences expect from the brand-new Made at Curve production and why would you recommend booking tickets?
Because it’s a new version! Why not? Who doesn’t like a bit of change? But good luck getting tickets because I’ve heard we are mostly sold out!
What was Kit De Luca like to play in Pretty Woman: The Musical in the West End and how was it taking over the role in 2022?
It was party time. I loved playing Kit opposite Aimie Atkinson’s Viv. She truly is an absolute joy to work with and to watch. It was never the same show twice with her which excites me as an actor. The same goes for Andy Barke, who is just an incredible actor and person and a pal for life. Him and John Addison took me under their wing and proper looked after me as I was SUCH a baby compared to them. They will HATE me saying that, hehe.
How was the experience starring as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and what are some of your stand-out memories from working on the musical?
Now that was life-changing for me. It broke and made me personally and professionally. That whole company has my heart forever, I adore them. I now also have developed hay fever from that job, doing a show outside is not for the weak, let alone one of the hardest musical theatre roles known. I’m proud of myself for doing that seeing as no one who looks like me has done it before. All of that, and then negative comments and kidney stones on top, really did break me, but the cast MADE me.
In 2023, you were in the cast of Marlowe Theatre’s pantomime Aladdin in Canterbury as The Spirit of the Ring, what was it like performing in pantomime?
It was my first one and it was tough but so good. 10am shows are INTERESTING (hellish) then by the time it gets to the third show I didn’t even know who I was! However, Ben Roddy and Phil Gallagher are comedy geniuses. Every show was a masterclass with those two. I also had the most amazing scene partner in Kevin Clifton. A showman, a true professional. I just love working with people from Strictly apparently!
We also – fun fact, ended Act One with one of the songs from Kinky Boots (Raise You Up) so that’s a lovely connection, isn’t it?
On screen, you played Little Cook Small in Big Cook, Little Cook for CBeebies, how was it filming for the revival series and working with Ibinabo Jack (who played Big Cook Jen)?
Ibinabo is a sister for life after that job. It was my first telly job and she took me under her wing (there seems to be a theme going with all the people I work with), it was a privilege to work with someone who was from the musical theatre world but doing a bit of telly. She was the perfect introduction to working in television for me.
Your further roles have included Anne Boleyn in SIX the Musical and Fatimah and cover Pritti in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, what are some of your favourite highlights from your acting career so far?
In these questions you’ve listed all of my CV so I have nothing else to talk about! I’ve loved every job but the common highlight for me is the people. To me, the people make the shows/jobs.
To be fair, doing the Oliviers with Jamie was cool and hosting the WhatsOnStage Awards and winning the same year for Legally was a great memory too!
Have you seen any theatre shows recently that you’ve particularly enjoyed?
Why Am I So Single? is the last show I saw before I came to Leicester and I saw my two pals Jo Foster and Collette Guitart play Oliver and Nancy and MY GOD they were sensational. I don’t know why the show is closing, it was spectacular and, of course, Toby (Marlow) and Lucy (Moss) (the entities that they are) spectacularly wrote this as a love letter to each other and their friendship, it’s something I will think about for a very VERY long time. Jo Foster singing Discoball was a performance of a lifetime.
How do you like to spend your time away from acting?
Love a bit of brain rot telly or internet, me. I pride myself on being quite the hun. Binging TV shows is another favourite of mine. I really enjoy looking after my friends and family and I LOVE cooking for them.
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