Cast members from the UK tour of Kinky Boots have visited Wolverhampton Boot Factory, just minutes from the Grand Theatre where the hit Broadway and West End production is currently playing.

Paula Lane, George Grayson and Jacob McIntosh all took time out from the show, which is set in a Northampton boot factory, to visit the site of what was the James Baker Boot Factory on Cleveland Road in Wolverhampton.

The Wolverhampton boot and shoe manufacturing company was originally founded in 1850 by James Baker. The business started out producing industrial footwear, but later moved to the production of ladies' and gentlemen’s' boots and shoes. In an uncanny parallel to the shows storyline, on James Baker's death, the Wolverhampton business ‘Baker’s Boot Factory’ passed down to his two sons, T. G and W. P. Baker. They were trading until at least 1950 in the building, which is now home to the LearnPlay Foundation. Press & PR Manager at the Grand Theatre, Scott Bird said:

"The story of the Wolverhampton Boot Factory was really exciting to discover. Whilst boot production ended some time ago, the building still looks incredibly like the Price & Son factory in the musical today.

"It has been wonderful to uncover a history to Wolverhampton that is so closely matched to Northampton’s where the Kinky Boots story is set.”

With book by four-time Tony Award-winner, Harvey Fierstein, and songs by Grammy and Tony winner, Cyndi Lauper, this joyous musical celebration is about the friendships we discover, and the belief that you can change the world when you change your mind.
 

Kinky Boots runs at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre until Saturday 27th October. For more information, or to get your tickets, head online to grandtheatre.co.uk. Read our review online by clicking here.