Johannes Redebe catches up with Her.ie about his next chapter

The Strictly Come Dancing star has landed the role of Lola in Kinky Boots, a role he was made for, and one Irish audience will have the joy of seeing when it comes to the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre this month.

Ahead of the show's Dublin run, Johannes Redebe caught up with Her's Kat O'Connor to discuss the life-changing role and the importance of theatre in such a heavy world.

He shared, "When I tell you the welcome into musical theatre has been beautiful."

"Ever since I learned about the role of Lola and Kinky Boots, it has been in the back of my mind, saying, 'Oh, I wish one day this could be a possibility.'"

As excited as he was about his musical theatre career, Johannes wanted to make sure he put the work in and honoured those who came before him.

"It really was a pinch me moment, but I fell in love with the process of getting to the audition because I didn't want to be another celebrity casting. I know that there are people who are standing in the wings who have been doing this for many years."

"So, I thought honour yourself first, honour the work, and honour those people by showing up to this role," Johannes shared.

The dancer said he spent two years in music and acting lessons before even auditioning for the role.

Speaking about the power of Kinky Boots, Johannes said the reimagined show is very authentic.

Kinky Boots follows Charlie Price, who has inherited his family’s failing shoe factory. With a relationship on the rocks, life is proving to be very challenging for Charlie Price. That is, until he meets Lola, a drag queen whose sparkle and unsteady heels might just hold the answer to saving the struggling business.

Johannes said playing Lola has made him stronger and bolder.

"It's given me a voice even though I'm doing it through a character, but it has given me a sense of purpose, and it has affirmed me in so many ways. Lola leads from a place of love, which is me."

Johannes hopes Kinky Boots will show Irish audiences that being bold and leading with kindness are the greatest things we can do in life.

"Let's lead with love and let's make space for one another because it is so important. Anybody who shows up to that theatre knows exactly what is happening in the world, but what's going to happen for them is they're going to be affirmed in their beliefs.

"And those that still have issues to deal with, they will overcome because this show is quite personal. I know for a fact that people are going to walk away better individuals than they already are."

Johannes hopes Irish audiences will leave the theatre with stronger beliefs

Johannes hopes musical theatre and the arts will continue to change the world, but especially in his hometown in South Africa.

"I see the impact of it in this country, and I wish that the world at large could have it. It makes me so sad that places like South Africa are lacking in this. If you don't have money, you can't access shows, so how do we expect to change minds without access?"

Johannes hopes he can encourage all kinds of people to embrace the world of theatre.

"Let's encourage people who would never go to the theatre like our brothers and our fathers. We know the impact of it, so let's show them the impact of it.

"If we can share this with the rest of the world, then we need to reel them in. The power of it, it just never ends."

Kinky Boots is on in Dublin's Bord Gáis Energy Theatre from July 15th to 19th.