Verity turns kinky in the kitchen for a new role

VERITY RUSHWORTH knew just what to do when she won a top role in Olivier-award winning musical Kinky Boots: strap on her stilettoes and start practising her best highheeled walk, round her kitchen.

The show is set in a Northamptonshire shoe factory, which goes from boring brogues to thigh-high ‘kinky boots’ (where the ‘sex is in the heel’) to guarantee its future.

For the finale, all the cast have to pull on the fantastically dangerous-looking footwear, and dance around the stage. Verity (pictured) last appeared in the West End eight years ago in Hairspray, also directed by Jerry Mitchell, the man behind Kinky Boots (readers may also remember her as Donna Windsor in ITV’s Emmerdale).

And she is determined to be ‘show ready’ for Kinky Boots when she takes over the role of Lauren from Elena Skye at the Adelphi Theatre on July 12.

The actress, from Leeds, now lives with her husband Dominic Shaw, an associate director, and nine-month-old daughter Amelie in Bedfordshire. To prepare for the ordeal, she’s been doing a ‘tenminute abs challenge every night in my lounge . . . and I walk around my kitchen in stilettos’.

Verity met her husband on Hairspray. He was dance captain on the show, and was tasked with rehearsing a move with her. ‘It involved a bed scene,’ she recalled, giggling. ‘We were at Pineapple Studios and — gosh — all these years later we’re married with a baby!’

She’s pleased to be playing Lauren because she’s a ‘down-to-earth, working-class girl’.

‘Coming from West Yorkshire, I can relate to her. People there are just down to earth. I’m a bit of a talker, so I’ll make friends quickly — whether you want to or not!’

Verity will have plenty of other new cast members joining Kinky Boots to have a natter with.

Simon-Anthony Rhoden will take over the part of drag queen Lola from Matt Henry, who won an Olivier award for his performance, on July 8. And other new arrivals include Jed Berry, Momar Diagne, Lauren Drew and Dale Evans.

David Hunter continues as Charlie, who has to save his factory.