Published on: Jul 1, 2014

Sunny Afternoon transfers to the West End,

to the Harold Pinter Theatre October 2014.

Sunny Afternoon, the critically acclaimed musical which tells the story of the early life of Ray Davies and the rise to stardom of The Kinks, will open at the Harold Pinter Theatre in October 2014.

Following a sold-out run at Hampstead Theatre, this world premiere production, with music and lyrics by Ray Davies, new book by Joe Penhall, design by Miriam Buether, choreography by Adam Cooper and direction by Edward Hall and, will begin previews on 4 October 2014.

Featuring some of The Kinks’s best-loved songs, including You Really Got Me, Waterloo Sunset and Lola, Sunny Afternoon marks the 50th Anniversary year of the band’s debut release.

The Kinks exploded onto the 60s music scene with a raw, energetic new sound that rocked a nation. But how did that happen, where exactly did they come from and what happened next?

Set against the back-drop of a Britain caught mid-swing between the conservative 50s and riotous 60s, this production explores the euphoric highs and agonising lows of one of Britain’s most iconic bands and the irresistible music that influenced generations.

The Kinks – Sunny Afternoon video

Background

Sonia Friedman Productions commissioned Joe Penhall in 2010 to write the book based on Ray Davies’s original story. The company developed the production over the next four years, assembling the creative team and cast that presented Sunny Afternoon earlier this year at Hampstead Theatre under the direction of Edward Hall.

Cast

John Dagleish (Ray Davies) was last on stage in Out of Joint’s The Mother. Film appearances include The Monuments Men, Snow in Paradise and Age of Heroes.TV includes Lark Rise to Candleford (3 series), Beaver Falls (2 series), Starlings (2 series) and Henry V, The Hollow Crown.

George Maguire’s (Dave Davies) stage appearances include 20th Century Boy (Belgrade Coventry, Wolsey Ipswich), Hair (Piccadilly Theatre), Thrill Me: The Leopold and Loeb Story (Charing Cross Theatre), Lift and Ten,Ten,Ten (Soho Theatre). Film includes Spiderhole, Boogeyman 3 and Terror and Utopia.

Adam Sopp’s (Mick Avory) stage work includes Symphony (Nabokov Theatre,Waterloo Vaults), The El Train (Hoxton Hall), The Woman In The Moon (Shakespeare’s Globe, Glastonbury), Backbeat (West End, USA and Canada). TV includes The Lost Honour, WPC56 and Teenage Kicks. Voice over parts include Harry Potter, Wild Tales, There Be Dragons and War and Peace.

Ned Derrington (Pete Quaife) is a recent RADA graduate. He has appeared in many RADA productions. On TV he has acted in Siblings, Fresh Meat, Holby City and Midsomer Murders.

Creative

Ray Davies is an influential and prolific rock musician and was co-founder and lead singer and songwriter for rock band The Kinks, and later a solo artist. He has an outstanding catalogue of hits from the earliest 1960s to the present day with estimated record sales in excess of 50 million. He has also acted, directed and produced shows for theatre and television.

Joe Penhall is an award winning playwright and screenwriter. Plays include Some Voices (Royal Court), Blue/Orange (National Theatre and West End), winner of Best New Play at the Evening Standard Awards, Olivier Awards and at the Critics Circle, and Dumb Show, Haunted Child and Birthday (all Royal Court). Screenplays include Enduring Love and The Road.

Director, Edward Hall is Artistic Director of Hampstead theatre, where he has recently also directed Wonderland, the sell-out Raving in November and Chariots of Fire (Hampstead and West End). Other credits include No Naughty Bits, Loyalty and Enlightenment (all Hampstead Theatre) and as Artistic Director of award winning Propeller: Twelfth Night, The Taming of the Shrew, A Winter’s Tale and Henry V.

Adam Cooper is one of the UK’s leading dancers and choreographers. Having been a principle in the Royal Ballet and danced the lead in Matthew Bourne’s multi-award winning Swan Lake, he has choreographed On Your Toes, (Leicester Haymarket, Royal Festival Hall, Japanese tour); Singin’ In The Rain (Sadler’s Wells, Leicester Haymarket); Grand Hotel (Donmar); and Carousel, (UK Tour, Savoy Theatre) amongst others. He choreographed and co-directed Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Japanese tour and Sadler’s Wells, London) and Simply Cinderella (Curve, Leicester).

 

Information from Hampstead Theatre

All associated graphics, logos, trader marks, trade names or copyrights are the property of the original owner and are used here for factual and educational purposes only.

If there are any errors please contact us with corrections mail@theatregold.com