With the brand-new Made at Curve production of Kinky Boots, Dan Partridge will be starring as Charlie Price on the UK and Ireland Tour, which opens on 17th January at Leicester Curve. Dan will be performing with a cast including Johannes Radebe as Lola, Newtion Matthews as Alternate Lola, Courtney Bowman as Lauren and Kara Lily Hayworth as Nicola, and he will be directed by Nikolai Foster, with the tour currently booking until 26th July in Oxford. Recently, Dan played Ben in HERE & NOW – The Official Steps Musical for the world premiere at The Alexandra in Birmingham, and he has previously worked with Nikolai Foster when he played Magaldi in Evita and Danny Zuko in Grease over a number of years in the West End and on tour. We found out from Dan about his upcoming run playing Charlie Price on tour in Kinky Boots, playing Ben in HERE & NOW – The Official Steps Musical and his previous roles in Evita and Grease.
In the new UK and Ireland Tour of Kinky Boots, you are starring as Charlie Price, what do you think the character will be like to play?
Charlie is a very exciting character for me to play. We meet the character when he has made a choice in his life which deep down he knows isn’t where his passion lies. As the narrative develops, he is thrust into a world he hadn’t anticipated. There are many twists and turns, so I’m looking forward to exploring them.
How did you feel finding out you’d booked the role of Charlie and how much did you know about the character before auditioning?
Nikolai (Foster), our fabulous director, asked me to play the role and I was so excited. It was the most complex I would have played to this date, so I knew it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.
What has it been like preparing to open in the brand-new Made at Curve production and how was it reading the script for the first time?
Reading the script for the first time was very exciting. At times, it was actually quite overwhelming and hard to read. Some of the themes and language used by the character are hard to say, so I learned a lot about the character reading with the other actors.
How has it been meeting and rehearsing with the rest of the cast, which includes Johannes Radebe as Lola, Newtion Matthews as Alternate Lola, Courtney Bowman as Lauren and Kara Lily Hayworth as Nicola?
The cast are so friendly and warm. It’s a pleasure to share the process with them. We are creating a very open and supportive rehearsal room, so we are all encouraged to push ourselves out of our comfort zones to create something extraordinary.
What is it like being directed by Nikolai Foster for the new tour, having previously worked with him on Evita and Grease?
I love working with Nikolai, so am thrilled he’s had me back for another production! He directs with so much care and creativity. Every show we create is a hugely exciting process.
What are you looking forward to for touring with the musical, which is currently booking until 26th July in Oxford, and what do you enjoy most about touring?
I am excited to see how the audiences react to and enjoy our show. Each little corner of the UK and Ireland are very different, so I look forward to exploring some new places!
Why would you recommend booking tickets to see the UK and Ireland Tour of Kinky Boots?
This is a brand new, exciting production of Kinky Boots. It will be like nothing they have seen before. We will be unpacking and exploring the themes within the show and not shy away from showing the audience the ugly side of them.
You have recently been part of HERE & NOW – The Official Steps Musical at The Alexandra in Birmingham as Ben, how did you find the experience working on the world premiere production?
It was a wonderful show and I’m very excited that it will live on! Every day coming in to work on HERE & NOW was an absolute joy.
How was it performing the Steps soundtrack and how would you describe Ben?
The character was a lot of fun. Being able to bring the character to life, from a workshop, to the theatre stage was a total joy.
What was it like playing Magaldi in Evita at Leicester Curve?
Evita was a fantastic process, and I loved playing Magaldi. It was a different type of character for me. I loved putting my own stamp on a character that has been played by so many other fantastic actors over the years.
Having played Danny Zuko in Grease for a number of years, both on tour and in the West End, what are some of your favourite memories from the musical and is there anything you miss most about playing Danny?
Having my friends and family come to see me play Danny in Grease in the West End is my favourite memory of my time on Grease. I poured a lot of my soul into the show and it means a tremendous amount to me. It marked a wonderful moment for my family.
Have you seen any theatre shows in recent months that have particularly stood out to you?
I saw My Fair Lady at the Curve, and it was extraordinary. Honestly one of the best shows I have ever seen. The three principal actors in the show were incredible! Five star production and a true must-see!
Do you have a favourite aspect of having an acting career?
It’s a joy to be an actor. I feel hugely privileged to be able to do this for a living. When you love your job, you truly never work a day in your life!
Have you been given any advice over your time as an actor so far that has stuck with you?
Every show you perform is somebody’s first experience of seeing live theatre!
Follow Dan on: