Kinky Boots opening night sees stars come out to support Cyndi Lauper

Stars of stage and screen showed up in style at the opening night of Kinky Boots in London's West End, as Cyndi Lauper hailed it a glittering homecoming.

Theatre impresario Sir Cameron Mackintosh, Graham Norton and Beverley Knight were among the famous guests who supported their friend and the show's lyricist Lauper as it transferred from Broadway to the Adelphi Theatre.

"Graham Norton kept saying 'Cyn, it's coming home' and he was right, and my fear of it left," Lauper said.

Lauper said she hoped that Kinky Boots would become a long-running production in London.

"I don't know [if it's got legs] but all I do know is people walk away really happy and exhilarated, and that's great to be a part of," she said.

West End veteran Beverley Knight said that the show and it's message of acceptance had returned to London at the right time.

"The message is important not just for London, but the world," she said. "I think in the most fun and entertaining way this is how we get the message across. The central message is the same: acceptance, tolerance, unity."

Kinky Boots sees drag queen Lola transform the fortunes of a failing Northampton shoe factory by convincing their strait-laced new owner to develop a line of custom high-heeled boots.

The musical was written by Harvey Fierstein and features music and lyrics from singer Cyndi Lauper who won the 2013 Tony Award for Best Original Score for her work.

It is based on the 2005 hit comedy film of the same name, which featured Chiwetel Ejiofor in the main role of Lola, and Joel Edgerton as factory boss Charlie. Matt Henry takes over as Lola in the musical, while Killian Donnelly plays Charlie.