Stop everything you’re doing and run to see Kinky Boots at Festival Bruxellons

Kinky Boots is exploding in rainbow colour at Festival Bruxellons!, and Ket had the joy of seeing it in preview — we came out of the courtyard with glitter in the eyes and the heart full.

Kinky Boots at Karreveld

For its 28th edition, Festival Bruxellons! turns the courtyard of the Château du Karreveld into a pop, joyful, very queer factory of emotions with Kinky Boots, the musical by Cyndi Lauper inspired by a true story.
Charlie Price inherits his father’s struggling shoe factory and has no idea how to save it… until Lola walks in: a charismatic drag artist with sky‑high heels and a vision just as high. Together, they come up with a wild idea — creating spectacular boots built to survive high heels — and, along the way, they unlearn prejudice, redraw boundaries between “normality” and flamboyance, and discover how difference can become the key to survival.

This production at Bruxellons! captures everything that makes Kinky Boots so loved worldwide: a pop, feel‑good score, humour, emotion, spectacular ensemble scenes, and a story that is very, very queer, celebrating self‑acceptance and acceptance of others for exactly who they are.

Vincent Eden’s incandescent Lola

The success of this Bruxellons! Kinky Boots rests first and foremost on an astonishing cast.
Vincent Eden sets the stage on fire as Lola: this is a colourful, fantastic, deeply moving and razor‑sharp performance. He moves seamlessly from diva‑level flamboyance to intimate vulnerability, making every entrance feel like an event and every confession like a punch to the heart.

By his side, Loïc Suberville is rock‑solid as Charlie. He gives real depth to this young factory boss torn between tradition and change, expectations and desire, fear and courage. The dynamic between Lola and Charlie drives the show: through clashes, misunderstandings and gradual mutual understanding, we see Kinky Boots unpack what it means to confront norms, to grow, and to accept oneself and others.

A big shout‑out to the entire ensemble, who carry every group number with explosive energy and meticulous work. The factory workers, Lola’s Angels and the surrounding characters collectively transform the courtyard into a queer club, a community workshop and an emotional arena all at once. And Niels Batens, as Harry, hits exactly the right tone: funny, recognisable, and emblematic of those resistant masculinities that slowly get shaken — and maybe softened — by Lola’s arrival.

Under the baton of Thomas Vanhauwaert

The show’s heartbeat comes from the musicians, placed at the core of the production and led by Thomas Vanhauwaert. Under his baton, Cyndi Lauper’s score bursts with life: propulsive pop grooves, tender ballads, and sharp shifts between factory floor and drag stage are all handled with clarity and joy.

The orchestra doesn’t just “accompany”; it narrates. It lifts the transitions, pushes the emotional arcs and supports the performers in those moments where songs become manifestos of pride, solidarity and reconciliation.

Bruxellons!: a key summer stage

Kinky Boots lands in a festival with a strong story of its own. Ten years ago, Bruxellons! took a decisive step by presenting its first large‑scale musical with live orchestra: The Sound of Music. Since then, every summer has added a new layer: classics like My Fair Lady or West Side Story, but also more rarely staged works such as Blood Brothers, Elisabeth, Rebecca or Come From Away.

In 2026, for the 28th edition, Kinky Boots becomes already the 10th major musical in the courtyard of Château du Karreveld. Despite productions that sometimes bring together more than 60 artists and technicians, the festival has stayed true to its original ambition: a popular festival, open to everyone, rooted in the artistic vitality of the Fédération Wallonie‑Bruxelles. Today, the château is a must‑go summer spot in Brussels, with a reputation that extends far beyond city and country borders.

And as always, Bruxellons! is more than its two big musicals. In Molenbeek‑Saint‑Jean, the festival unfolds through theatre, music and discoveries — a real invitation to explore the many faces of the performing arts. With a subscription, spectators can enjoy this richness at notably accessible prices, including for the big productions.

An audience experience in itself

Part of what makes a Bruxellons! evening so special is what happens around the show. The welcome from the team and volunteers is warm, efficient, genuinely kind; you feel expected, taken care of, and invited to stay rather than rushed out.

The setting is unique: a dinner by the lake, drinks in the château’s salons, conversations under the trees before or after the performance — all of this turns a night at Kinky Boots into a full summer experience. It’s theatre, musical, queer joy and conviviality wrapped into one.

Your summer depends on this

Let’s be honest: if you don’t come see Kinky Boots at Festival Bruxellons! before 2 September, your summer is basically ruined.
This production is the must‑see of the season: a pop, joyful, deeply queer musical that celebrates difference, solidarity and the boldness of being yourself, carried by an exceptional cast, an inspired orchestra and a festival that knows how to make audiences feel at home.

Kinky Boots is an experience to live fully: you walk out with your heart racing, a grin glued to your face, songs looping in your head… and one clear impulse — to keep walking, dancing and loving in your own boots, as kinky as they need to be.

KET Magazine is a community‑driven, non‑profit magazine run by volunteers and based in Brussels. You can find our other music and nightlife stories on ket.brussels, and you can always write to us to share your projects or pitch a story: info@ket.brussels