a day ago
'I can't believe I'm doing this and calling it a job!'
Johannes Radebe has to be one of the happiest people on the planet. And why not? The Strictly Come Dancing star is on tour in hit musical Kinky Boots and he can't wait to return to Dublin.
It's quite remarkable to consider where Johannes Radebe came from and went through on his way to his current status as a much-loved pro dancer on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing show.
As well as becoming a regular on Strictly, he's embarked on tours, and even found time to write a memoir, Jojo: Finally Home. That book is now being turned into a film. It's some story.
Born in Zamdela, part of South Africa's Orange Free State, Johannes suffered homophobic bullying as a child, and had to endure race and class prejudice when competing at ballroom dancing.
While living in Johannesburg and learning his trade, he spent some time homeless, but eventually became a dance teacher before learning his trade as a dancer on cruise ships.
He then became a pro dancer on South Africa's version of Strictly Come Dancing before joining the touring cast of dance show Burn the Floor. In 2018 the BBC brought him to the mothership show, and he's been a Strictly showstopper ever since.
He's currently touring in the lead role of Lola in Kinky Boots, the hit musical about a struggling shoe factory owner who meets Lola, a drag queen whose sparkle and unsteady heels might just hold the answer to saving his ailing business.
The show plays at Dublin's Bord Gáis Energy Theatre from July 15 for a five-night run. It's a trip he's happy to make as it rekindles many happy memories.
Greeting him on Zoom, his upbeat personality seems permanently set at 11. This guy oozes good vibes.
John Byrne: So, Johannes, how much are you looking forward to bringing Kinky Boots back to Dublin?
Johannes Radede: I've been to Ireland before, with my own tour, it was called Freedom Unleashed, and it happened two years ago. I didn't go back with my last tour because dates didn't work, and I was gutted. Because that's where I closed my show.
You guys are a fantastic, fantastic audience. I go to a lot of places. I closed my show there and it was one of the best nights. Me and the entire team can agree with that.
I remember I was onstage and everybody was chanting 'Ole, ole, ole, ole' and I felt like I was at a soccer tournament. I felt like a football star. You guys made me feel like that - and I'll never forget it.
You're playing Lola in Kinky Boots. It's the kind of upbeat, inspirational role that you were clearly made for. You must have a hoot in those boots!
You say the role was designed for me . . . When I first came to this country [the UK], I appeared with the heels on Strictly Come Dancing back in 2019. People said, Oh Johannes, you really need to play the role of Lola. And they hadn't even heard me sing!
So, I guess I am everything that Lola represents. She is bold. She is confident. There are things about her that I still have to catch up to, but honestly I am thrilled to be doing it because it has been something I have secretly been wanting to do.
But I would never confidently admit it to anybody, to say I would love to play that role because the singing - for me - was an issue.
I just didn't want it to be celebrity casting, you know? At some point, honestly, it felt like that when I heard about the opportunity of doing Kinky Boots and auditioning for it. It took me two years to come to the decision to finally audition.
I wanted to make sure that I was ready, so I went for singing lessons for two years, I went to acting classes, coaching. And after two years, as I said, I was 'Okay, may I please audition for this role?' And I've been loving it.
How is the tour going so far?
It's marvellous. Remember: I come to these places for one-nighters. So to be in a town for a whole week, you get to really experience the town itself. So that, for me, has been amazing. But getting back to the show - it's phenomenal.
It's been received so well. Kinky Boots has a cult following. People love that show and they've loved it for many years. It's so beautiful that we have the show back.
And not only back in London, it is touring again. And it's sending the message of the show: let's all be kind to one another, make space for one another, and accept each other for who we are.
I can't tell you when I say that message with everything that's going on in the world - iIt's so important. To be so well-received on tour, it is the most beautiful thing. We've managed to bring theatre to people - which is to bring joy and perspective to people. And that's what we see happening every single night.
People coming in numbers to really just support this show has really restored my faith in humanity. I can't believe I'm doing this and I'm calling it a job!
Honestly, to be able to bring those four elements of musical theatre - which are acting, singing, dancing and dialogue - it's the most beautiful thing. But I'm surrounded by a cast of phenomenal people.
They are phenomenal people. And so talented.
With all that's going on in your career, and your memoir Jojo being made into a film, it's a very exciting time for you, isn't it?
Listen, everything that's happening is obviously surreal. But at the same time - and please don't get me wrong when I say that - I'm honestly humbled by it all.
It takes me back to how much one has had to go through, to sacrifice and compromise. I always say I am living a lovely, beautiful life at the moment. That's me doing it, without my family, my friends, without my tribe and community back home in South Africa.
The most beautiful thing this platform has done is that it has given me the opportunity to give back to the community, the community that really helped me, and I wanted my success to be their success.
I have always felt guilty for achieving all these things - but with this book being turned into a film . . . my people, for the first time, will have their story told back to them.
And I think there's nothing greater I can give back to them - honestly - than doing something that tells their story. And highlights how valuable they are as human beings.
I'm hoping this whole process really says to them they are worthy as individuals. Then I think I will have done my job.
And then there's the next run of Strictly Come Dancing on the horizon . . .
I'm really looking forward to the new Strictly Come Dancing season and I hope to be there for many, many years.
And when you realise the reach of it . . . and you're shaking your tush in front of millions of people, and their living rooms are happy places. I'm all in. Honestly John, I'm so happy.
And I'm going to finish this tour in Dublin! I've been on tour since December and finish in Dublin and I set it up that way because of what I experienced the last time.
And believe me when I tell you that I'm looking forward to being back. We'll be there and I can't wait to part-hay!
