DUDLEY school boy drag queen Athena Heart received a warm welcome from the cast of Kinky Boots at the Birmingham Hippodrome when she visited the production this week.

14-year-old Lewis Bailey, who performs as Athena Heart, hit the headlines last year after then-named Castle High School and Visual Arts College in Dudley told him he was not permitted to perform his drag act in the end-of-year talent show the day before it was to go ahead.

The school cited that they thought the act was ‘not appropriate’ due to Lewis’s age. However, despite not being able to perform his act, Lewis still chose to attend that day’s non-school uniform day in drag as Athena.

Promoting the message of “just be who you want to be”, the cast welcomed Athena with open arms and words of encouragement as she headed backstage after watching the multi-award-winning production.

Kinky Boots, which is currently playing at the Birmingham Hippodrome, tells the story of Charlie Price, a young man struggling to live up to his father’s expectations and continue the family business of Price & Son. With the shoe factory’s future hanging in the balance, help arrives in the unlikely but spectacular form of Lola – a fabulous performer in need of some sturdy new stilettos.

The Olivier winning musical will be performed at the Hippodrome until March 23.