It's Waterloo Sunset time for our favourite Kinks musical. SUNNY AFTERNOON has posted closing notices in the West End. But two bits of good news: you still have until October to see the show in London, and you'll have plenty more chances to see the Davies brothers raising rock'n'roll hell on tour...
The multi-Olivier award-winning hit British musical SUNNY AFTERNOON will conclude its London run at the end of its current booking period on 29 October 2016, after more than two years in the West End. The production will begin a separate national tour on 19 August at the Manchester Opera House.
To mark the 50th anniversary of The Kinks’ hit single SUNNY AFTERNOON reaching Number One in 1966, 50 top price tickets for every performance in July are on sale for £19.66.
The critically-acclaimed musical SUNNY AFTERNOON tells the story of the early life of Ray Davies and the rise to stardom of The Kinks. It has established itself as a firm favourite with audiences and critics alike since it opened at the Harold Pinter Theatre in October 2014.
Danny Horn (Doctor Who; The Dead Dogs) plays Ray Davies, with Oliver Hoare (Antony and Cleopatra, Chichester) as Dave Davies, Tom Whitelock (Times Square Angel, Union) as bassist Pete Quaife and Damien Walsh (Dreamboats and Petticoats) as drummer Mick Avory. At certain performances, the role of Ray Davies will be played by Ryan O’Donnell (Romeo and Juliet, RSC; Quadrophenia).
Full cast: Jason Baughan, Niamh Bracken, Christopher Brandon, Harriet Bunton, Alice Cardy, Oliver Hoare, Danny Horn, Gillian Kirkpatrick, Megan Leigh Mason, Jay Marsh, Ryan O’Donnell, Stephen Pallister, Charlie Tighe, Gabriel Vick, Damien Walsh and Tom Whitelock. Understudies: Alice Cardy, Lia Given, Lloyd Gorman, Vicki Manser, Kay Milbourne, Nick Sayce, Robert Took, Alex Tosh, Robbie White.
SUNNY AFTERNOON was the best performing show at the 2015 Olivier Awards, winning four awards including Best New Musical. Ray Davies won for Outstanding Achievement in Music.
Fifty years ago this year, The Kinks were sitting at Number One in the UK charts with their single ‘Sunny Afternoon’. The band’s popularity has not faded since the 1960s, with crowds of all ages filling the Harold Pinter Theatre night after night.
Featuring some of The Kinks’ best-loved songs, including You Really Got Me, Waterloo Sunset and Lola, Sunny Afternoon shows the music of The Kinks is still as popular as ever, more than 50 years since the band’s rise to fame.
Following a sold-out run at Hampstead Theatre, this world premiere production, with music and lyrics by Ray Davies, new book by Joe Penhall, original story by Ray Davies, direction by Edward Hall, design by Miriam Buether and choreography by Adam Cooper, opened at the Harold Pinter theatre on 28 October 2014. Lighting is by Rick Fisher, sound by Matt McKenzie and the Musical Supervisor and Musical Director is Elliott Ware.
