The tour stars Ryan O’Donnell as ‘Ray Davies’, with Mark Newnham as ‘Dave Davies’, Garmon Rhys as bassist ‘Pete Quaife’ and Andrew Gallo as drummer ‘Mick Avory’. They are joined by: Jayne Ashley; Victoria Anderson; Nathanael Campbell; Marcelo Cervone; Tomm Coles; Deryn Edwards; Sophie Leigh Griffin; Sam Haywood; James Hudson; Richard Hurst; Cleo Jaeger; James Lorcan; Joseph Richardson; Robert Took; Alex Wadham; Libby Watts; Michael Warburton; Lucy Wilkerson and Lisa Wright.
Featuring some of The Kinks’ best-loved songs, including You Really Got Me, Waterloo Sunset and Lola, SUNNY AFTERNOON tells the story of the early life of Ray Davies and the rise to stardom of The Kinks.
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.
Ryan O’Donnell (Ray Davies) most recently appeared in Sunny Afternoon at the Harold Pinter Theatre. His other theatre credits include: Quadrophenia at Theatre Royal Plymouth; Frankenstein at Royal and Derngate; Romeo & Juliet for the Royal Shakespeare Company; ShadowMouth at Sheffield Crucible and Tracy Beaker the Musical at the Nottingham Playhouse. Ryan was a member of the band Jethro Tull for four years. In 2009 he recorded Matthew and Son with Cat ‘Yusuf’ Stevens and the BBC.
Mark Newnham (Dave Davies) most recently appeared in All or Nothing at The Vaults Theatre London. His other theatre credits include: Return to the Forbidden Planet on UK tour; Lennon at the Royal Court, Liverpool; Bouncers and A Passionate Woman at the Queens Theatre, Hornchurch and Hot Stuff at the Oldham Coliseum.
Garmon Rhys (Pete Quaife) most recently appeared in Doctor Faustus at Trafalgar Studios. His other theatre credits include: The Secret Adversary at the Watermill Theatre & UK tour and Regeneration at the Royal and Derngate and UK tour.
Andrew Gallo (Mick Avory) most recently appeared in Parade at the Hope Mill Theatre. His other theatre credits include: Adam Long’s Dickens Abridged on UK tour; Sister Act at the Aberystwyth Arts Centre; Saturday Night Fever at the Theatre Royal Bath and UK tour; New York City Rhythm at the Playhouse Theatre and Hairspray at the Aberystwyth Arts Centre.
Following a sell-out run at Hampstead Theatre, SUNNY AFTERNOON opened to critical acclaim at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London’s West End in October 2014 and had its final London performance at the Harold Pinter Theatre on 29 October 2016.
SUNNY AFTERNOON has music and lyrics by Ray Davies with a book by Joe Penhall and original story by Ray Davies. It is directed by Edward Hall, designed by Miriam Buether with choreography by Adam Cooper. Lighting design is by Rick Fisher with sound design by Matt McKenzie for Autograph. Musical and vocal adaptations are by Ray Davies and Elliott Ware based on original Kinks recordings. The Musical Director is Barney Ashworth and the Musical Supervisor is Elliott Ware.
