Currently, Newtion Matthews is touring the UK and Ireland in Kinky Boots, which opened on 17th January at Leicester Curve, and now on its run at New Victoria Theatre in Woking, with Newtion playing Simon Sr and Angel. Newtion also alternates the role of Lola alongside Johannes Radebe, and he will be making his Lola debut at today’s performance opposite Dan Partridge as Charlie Price, Courtney Bowman as Lauren and Kara Lily Hayworth as Nicola. Kinky Boots is a brand-new Made at Curve production directed by Nikolai Foster, and is booking until 26th July at New Theatre in Oxford. Amongst Newtion’s theatre credits, he performed at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in 2023 for Once On This Island, and in Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical in the West End, he played Coxsone Dodd/Lee Perry/Bucky. On screen, Newtion has filmed for Electric Queens of Brixton, which is his first foray into drag and is currently in development, and in 2015, he was a contestant on Series 4 of The Voice UK, reaching the Knockouts on Team will.i.am, and now releases original music, with his latest single B.O.T.T.O.M releasing last August. Speaking with us, Newtion tells us about being in the cast of Kinky Boots on tour, his roles of Simon Sr, Angel and Alternate Lola and his time in Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical in the West End.

How does it feel to be part of the UK and Ireland Tour of Kinky Boots, which opened on 17th January at Leicester Curve?

It feels amazing, and also very correct at this point in my life, to be involved in such an iconic piece. To be touring the UK with a show which advocates for Black queer joy is a magical and essential thing. We are reimagining it into what we already feel is going to knock folk’s socks off, in a different way than the original work did. It is giving me a gorgeous tingle in my art heart!

I’ve wanted to work with Nikolai Foster (director) for a long while so to be in the room with a collective of artists under his direction is special. He has a wonderful way of encouraging play and freedom to run riot whilst channelling all that ‘chaos’ into truth. Can you tell I’m excited!?

At certain performances, you will be starring as Lola opposite Dan Partridge as Charlie Price, what do you think Lola will be like to play and how are you preparing for the role?

Dan is incredibly talented and it’s great watching him in action within the rehearsal process. I appreciate a committed actor; he doesn’t half arse it ever. Vocals, acting, dancing all on point and it doesn’t hurt that he’s easy on the eye.  I’m excited to see what we bolster and encourage in one another as Lola and Charlie. It’s the role of a lifetime and I have been waiting to sink my teeth into her forever. Now that I’m here, I shan’t be holding anything back.

I’m prepping by swatting the script like a crazy person. Most of the songs I know, being a huge fan of the original show and score, but to now be practicing them with the pianist, and with intent… I get goosebumps every time. Lola is me; I am them! This is a story of Black queer victory and in my own journey of life, this opportunity couldn’t have come at a more poignant juncture.

What are you looking forward to most for performing as Alternate Lola and telling the Kinky Boots story?

I’m most looking forward to continuing the legacy of Black queer artistry that this show has caused, rippling from Broadway to the West End and around the world. I’m excited to put my stamp on Lola, and to bring my truth to this story. It is a truth that resonates deeply with my own personal experience.

I’m excited to see how it encourages young people to be themselves in their strength and in their allyship. I’m excited to drop looks and queer energy loud and proud in every town and city, living the message of Kinky Boots and of Lola in real life, as we paint each stop on the tour red, sparkly and Kinky Boots, the house down!

To be Black and unapologetically so, is just living to me. To be Black and queer is also JUST living but to do so and be joyful and working through projected social and religiously imposed guilt is protest even when just trying to be and enjoy an oat milk caramel latte, darling! I want to get underneath and behind the fabulous of it all and work on the why that fuels Lola from her boots to derrière!

How is it taking on the characters of Simon Sr & Angel and how different are both roles to play?

What a world apart! Portraying the character of Simon Sr is an essential but painful part of why Lola is so resilient in their protest of self and gender non-conforming identity.

The subject matter of rejection when it comes to queerness cuts close to home, but my want is to humanise Simon Sr even in the fleeting moment of his admonishing of young Lola. The want to protect the little Black child who may not always be held and protected in the esteem that a parent would want or need from society at large is something I believe motivates him to try and cut short young Simon’s expression of self. It’s certainly an experience I’ve been hurt by, grown up in and become stronger because of and apart from, but I can’t pretend that it’s not a process of recall and healing that must be used in order to live the truth of where these phobias come from.

When it comes to being an Angel! I am living! I came up with her name: Trinny Anne Tobago!! Heritage is EVERYTHING. She’s all sex kitten, baby girl and mandem rolled into one! A little (lotta) bit like me. When I’m up there I’m representing all that makes me, and that means carrying a good ol’ amount of the seasoning from that island in the sun from whence my parents came all those years ago, creating opportunities that would eventually lead me to playing alternate Lola, Angel and Simon Sr in the UK tour of Kinky Boots, this 2025!

What was it like meeting the rest of the cast for the first time and how has it been working with them so far?

Blown away. Encouraged. Held. And a bit aroused! We’re a sexy, talented bunch of misfits. But what I appreciate is the focus, the joy and the craft that everyone is bringing to the room. It’s stunning to behold! How have I been teary only a week in?

It’s the conversations that are happening in AND around the room that are blowing me away. These are informing the community that we are creating while building this world. Everyone understands the assignment. We all deeply cherish what this piece is about; and what it means to be about it, not just in word but in action!

Special love and big ups have got to be put upon Leah Hill and Johnny Bishop! They’re titans in the industry. It’s the kindness and encouragement within the attention to detail for me. Using our bodies to articulate a vocabulary spoken in this Land of Lola. It’s très chic in its grit!

Excellence is not a word I throw around but… lordamercy, the excellence!

Have you seen Kinky Boots on stage previously and was there anything that drew you to the production?

I have, and more than a few times. I knew I wanted to play Lola from the moment I saw the YouTube clips of Billy Porter singing Not My Father’s Son and it became one of my rep folder firm faves. Fun fact: It was the first song my husband ever saw me perform at Kinky Kabaret at Freedom on our first official date.

I also had the honour of watching my brother Matt Henry grace the West End with his Lola; it was magical, and I knew one day I too would bring her to life. Joining this legacy of great queer Black artistes means the world to me, and I don’t take it lightly.

This is a role of a lifetime, I’ve always held ‘her’ (Lola) dear. I draw on the need to be it on stage and off! To raise up the little Black boy in me so that I can do that for all the little Black boys who will watch and see that it is a blessing to be strong and powerful in whatever our choice of gender expression is be that feminine, masculine, or non-specific, to show that our vulnerability IS our strength!

Who do you think will enjoy watching Kinky Boots and why would you recommend booking tickets?

This isn’t the Kinky Boots we’ve previously been used to, is all I’ll say. This is a show for anyone who wants a great night out, yes! But it’s also for anyone who wants a deeper understanding of the dynamics of gender non-conforming people, of ‘queerness’… There truly is nothing as queer as folk. What one person wears or dares to be in life, in the bedroom or the boardroom under or as THEIR choice of clothing or expression could be the most perplexing of things to me and absolutely vanilla ice cream to another. The key is to understand that “Definitions belong to the definers, not the defined” – thank you always, Toni Morrison.

In every corner of this country is a parent, child, friend or person who is discovering, uncovering or shying away from their truth. This piece is about that exact journey towards #unapologetica

Maybe you love the film and adore King Chiwetel (Ejiofor) as I do! Or maybe you just want to see some bad bitches do some bad bitchery on stage and sing, act and dance their truth out. Especially right now, the poignancy of this piece could not be more relevant or more fabulously essential.

It is our duty to stand up for our trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming siblings and selves; THAT’S what we’ll be doing EVERY time we hit the stage. And that is why you should be hitting the buy ticket now button!

In 2023, you were in the cast of Once On This Island, what was the show like to be involved with and how was it performing at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre?

What a stunning and complex piece. Firstly, praise to Ola Ince for captaining and directing the ship. It was a hell of a ship; dealing with the subject matters of colonialism and colourism was not always an easy thing to do, but we created a beautiful piece.

I had previously worked with the iconic Miss Gabrielle Brooks on Get Up, Stand Up!, so to be able to return to that honour was a blessing! To watch her gift us with her talent is a truly remarkable experience.

The open air is a stunning space. It gave me throwback to my Globe days. It’s a wonderful feeling, singing as the sun glows at you from behind the trees.

I made some great friends from that job. Shout out to the crew!

What are some of your favourite memories from your time in Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical in the West End as Coxsone Dodd/Lee Perry/Bucky?

Oh wow! You have done your research. Get Up, Stand Up! was one of my favourite jobs of all time. The piece is magic because it’s for/of the culture and so the want to uphold and present the legacy of the great prophet Bob Marley was near and dear to us all.

A true family connection was made during the rehearsal process, and I hold those brothers and sisters close to my heart to this day. I’m so proud of all that we are doing and continue to accomplish as a tribe.

The West End hadn’t ever seen anything like it. Pieces that bring the community, and I mean the Black community, to the theatre are essential. And that’s what Get Up, Stand Up! did. Playing characters that I drew on from parts of my dad, my uncles, my people in order to present Moses, Coxsone, Bucky but especially THE Lee “Scratch” Perry was a special thing to honour. To look out and see my parents beaming at the familiarity of self that I was emitting was special.

Performing Punky Reggae Party was a riot every night! The hilarity of madness that would occur as we all partied hearty was a manifestation of the joy that reggae music brings to all!

The magic of standing side of stage and watching my sisters pour their hearts out in No Woman, No Cry. To see the love triangle as Shanay Holmes sang Waiting in Vain was exquisite and all that before I shout out the kings, our leading men who reasoned and seasoned up the ting. David Albury, Michael Duke and my bro, ma sis, ma babes Ivano Turco. Exceptional artists, all of them.

Special shout out to my roomies: Andre Antonio and Michael Jeremiah. Our dressing room was the spot! I’m really thankful for the way they embraced me so fully. Brotherhood means a special thing to me as a Black queer man and I’m blessed to have been sharing space and love with those kings.

As an on-screen actor, you have worked on projects including Electric Queens of Brixton and The People We Hate at the Wedding, can you tell us about this?

Electric Queens of Brixton was my first official foray into drag. It’s a piece that’s currently in development for TV so I’m excited to see how it manifests. It was created by the wonderful Verona Rose and is about Black queer life in south London.

Full geish at 10am on Brixton market; the traders were gagged, honey. Especially as not only did we look delicious BUT they tried to intimidate, however, I stay ready to defend. My community rioted on those streets so that I could walk with freedom. YOU better rock down to Electric Avenue correct, or you might get correctly rocked. But the heart of Electric Queens of Brixton is very real. I’m always looking to be in pieces that resonate with me, that tell stories that mean something. I resonate with the subject matters of sexual shame and religious guilt and the character of Easton is looking for something in life, not just in his drag. It’s a very powerful piece.

How did you find the experience being a contestant on Series 4 of The Voice UK in 2015 and how was it reaching the Knockouts as part of Team will.i.am?

I was in a weird place spiritually and consequently vocally when I was on The Voice. I was hurting from my previous experience on a TV talent competition show. I’d not long been shelved by Warner Music, who had scouted and signed me to a project off the back of The X Factor, where I reached the live finals with my boyband (F.Y.D) that my bestie Kalvin Lamey and I had created and consequently become part of Team Simon (Cowell) for the live shows. Alas, five younger lads who went on to become One Direction were put together and my dream of pop global stardom was dashed. However, rejection is truly a protection.

I guess to 360 my answer, I wanted to prove I wasn’t ‘just a dancer’ and that I could sing so I kind of went in with all the defence and all the gusto and sang from an angry place. It ultimately led to me sustaining vocal damage and losing my confidence and reason for singing. In the long run, it took me back to why I sing because I had to rebuild from the ground up for about two years in a way that maybe I wouldn’t have had if I’d succeeded in the opportunities I had previously. It was amazing to cross paths and be mentored by the genius will.i.am; I have been a fan from the moment I heard Joints & Jam.

I’m thankful for it all, as I was low-key able to therapise a very difficult chapter in my young adulthood which brought me to this place of truth and resonance.

In August, you released your latest single B.O.T.T.O.M, what do you enjoy most about recording original music and how was it seeing the response to the release?

YES, I DID! Pouring out my truth in ways that I am the sole architect, is a powerful process for me. Especially as I recorded it in my kitchen, and it was engineered by my hubby during one of our draw the curtains and get creative sessions. I wanted to stick a middle finger up to the gaytriarchy and the fem shaming of it all. It’s a mood not a label.

Also, have you seen it? It’s phenomenal. People were very shocked at how raunchy it is. But bloody hell; now’s the time to do it. The response was amazing. Hearing it played in clubs was wild and the remixes that are on their way are very scintillating to me.

Music to make the ‘mandem wan’ cyatch vibes with dem mans deh!’ I call it Electribal soul. It beats hard!

Music can be protest. Queer love and sex positivity IS protest. It shouldn’t have to be, alas…

B.O.T.T.O.M birthed itself out of a need to stare down my own religious and social guilt as a ‘man’ who loves to slip himself into a sexy lil dress in and of an evening and who professes to be sex positive, but would still find myself wanting to assimilate to the ideals of binary thinking and ‘masculinity’ in order to fit in.

Where does your love of acting and music come from and how did you get into both?

From my family. We’re a naturally musical tribe. I always say my dad rumbles with the bass of the ancestors whilst my mum chirps with the melodies of the birds. My brother is also a phenomenal wordsmith and lyricist. Add all that to a pot of my dramatic self, well…

My parents put me in ballet as a child to help me cope with ADHD, et voilà!

…my god! Was that a short answer?!

Do you have any favourite theatre shows to watch and music artists to listen to?

Oooo! Favourite shows! Wicked is one of my go to faves. I went to see it over Christmas, especially as for the first time ever in the West End the three leads (who happened to be friends and colleagues) were Black. Of course, we put pure love and praise on Queen Cynthia (Erivo)! Give her the Oscar already and her flowers and say thank you sister for being so undeniably phenomenal. I’ve honestly woken up in tears thinking about her performance. I adored The Barbershop Chronicles. That is a piece I’d love to be in. For Black Boys was also deeply moving. I was in awe of Karl Queensborough as THE Hamilton; and the cast of MJ The Musical. Lordamercy! That is Black excellence.

People, Places & Things redefined what theatre means; I don’t know if I can call it theatre because I’m still debriefing it in my actual life. Denise Gough is something different. I don’t know from what or where she drew that channelling but I’m grateful she chose to dock her spaceship on this planet.

My favourite future piece that is making waves and coming to the West End soon is Black Power Desk, a musical written by Urielle Klein-Mekongo, about the British Black Panther Power movement. It is a powerful and truthful piece that I am honoured to be a part of, and the music is astounding! I’m very excited for the world to receive it.

Artist-wise: Spin-1/2 aka Stuart Mackenzie-Newtion aka my husband just dropped his mixtape Antinous and it slaps hard! Get into it immediately and at once. I’m incredibly proud of him.

Doechii has my heart. She’s honestly the truth. I love what she said in regard to maintaining and cherishing the soul of hip-hop music! Love me some Tate McRae, Tyla, FKA twigs, Kaytranada, Jazmine Sullivan, Lauryn Hill, The Code and Katseye.

EVERYTHING Honey Dijon does; I’m manifesting working with her as soon as is humanly possible. So if anyone who knows her is reading this, please do tell her I adore her and I would love her to remix B.O.T.T.O.M and/or do anything musical with her.

We don’t ever move forward unless we shout the name: Beyoncé!!

How do you like to spend your time away from your performing career?

I’m a homebody; I stay at my cute lil Notting Hill apartment with my gorgeous husband and our two cats (Katty Nip Nip and Prometheus Pom Pom) and there is nothing I love better than to have a sofa duvet day and enjoy watching the world go by.

Uncle time also brings me major joy. My sis Leonie had twin boys around lockdown and when I say they are the future! The magic and wonder in their eyes is why the world spins.

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