The Kinks Sunny Afternoon Playhouse Theatre Edinburgh 5th May 2026
Sunny Afternoon The Kinks at the Playhouse Theatre Edinburgh tonight was a tribute to the music of one of the most iconic bands of the 1960s, The Kinks, and one of the great songwriters of his generation, Ray Davies.
With Ray Davies onboard for this production (music & lyrics and original story), there was never any doubt that what was coming to the stage would be true to his original vision for his music and words, plus a lot of insight into the often explosive personal dynamics between himself and brother Dave.
This show is a window into the often chaotic world of "The Kinks", a band who were in so many ways a punk band before anyone had even thought of the term, but underneath all of this, there was always the music, and for so many people, it defined not only a generation, but was the background to their lives. This was, at last, a band singing about things that so many people related to in their own lives. The Kinks were a working class band and that world was often so beautifully recreated in their music
It is too easy for this review to become a tribute to the music of The Kinks, but that is not what it is ultimately about, it is about this show, "Sunny Afternoon", and this is simply a great show, full of so many recognisable songs, but more importantly than that, one that captures the energy and chaos of the band.
A huge part of the success of this show is down to its two leading performers - Oliver Hoare (Dave Davies) and Danny Horn (Ray Davies), and together on stage they both have strong individual characteristics that they bring to their respective roles. Together on stage though, something a little special does happen between them and you get that feeling of what it might have been like to witness first hand Dave and Ray on-stage at their peak. Making the choice to put two performers who are also musicians in their own right, as well as stage (and other media) performers was a good casting decision here.
If you are thinking of going to see this show, it is worth noting that this is a tribute to the music of The Kinks, but it is not a tribute band type of show, and there is a real story with many personal, off-stage moments here that often, in their own way, set up the reasons why some things happened in the recording studio and on-stage. Whilst some of the now iconic songs are pretty much straight performances of the originals, many more are clever, often subtle new arrangements to suit this show and its story line.
The songs from this show are a cross section of the band’s back-catalogue and whilst songs such as "Dedicated Follower of Fashion" and "A Well Respected Man" definitely, to me, belong in its original time period, others such as "You Really Got Me", "Dead End Street", "Stop Your Sobbing", "Sunny Afternoon" and "Lola" are simply timeless. Let’s not forget of course, one of the most perfect songs ever written, "Waterloo Sunset".
Most of the other cast members performed multiple roles tonight, but a special mention does have to go to Lisa Wright as Rasa (Ray's wife) who got most of the dramatic scenes in this show.
"Sunny Afternoon" is simply a fun show. A nostalgia trip for those of us old enough to want to take a trip down memory lane, and music that so often still sounds like it could have been made today for those too young to have listened to it first time around.
Review by Tom King (c) 2026
www.artsreviewsedinburgh.com
With Ray Davies onboard for this production (music & lyrics and original story), there was never any doubt that what was coming to the stage would be true to his original vision for his music and words, plus a lot of insight into the often explosive personal dynamics between himself and brother Dave.
This show is a window into the often chaotic world of "The Kinks", a band who were in so many ways a punk band before anyone had even thought of the term, but underneath all of this, there was always the music, and for so many people, it defined not only a generation, but was the background to their lives. This was, at last, a band singing about things that so many people related to in their own lives. The Kinks were a working class band and that world was often so beautifully recreated in their music
It is too easy for this review to become a tribute to the music of The Kinks, but that is not what it is ultimately about, it is about this show, "Sunny Afternoon", and this is simply a great show, full of so many recognisable songs, but more importantly than that, one that captures the energy and chaos of the band.
A huge part of the success of this show is down to its two leading performers - Oliver Hoare (Dave Davies) and Danny Horn (Ray Davies), and together on stage they both have strong individual characteristics that they bring to their respective roles. Together on stage though, something a little special does happen between them and you get that feeling of what it might have been like to witness first hand Dave and Ray on-stage at their peak. Making the choice to put two performers who are also musicians in their own right, as well as stage (and other media) performers was a good casting decision here.
If you are thinking of going to see this show, it is worth noting that this is a tribute to the music of The Kinks, but it is not a tribute band type of show, and there is a real story with many personal, off-stage moments here that often, in their own way, set up the reasons why some things happened in the recording studio and on-stage. Whilst some of the now iconic songs are pretty much straight performances of the originals, many more are clever, often subtle new arrangements to suit this show and its story line.
The songs from this show are a cross section of the band’s back-catalogue and whilst songs such as "Dedicated Follower of Fashion" and "A Well Respected Man" definitely, to me, belong in its original time period, others such as "You Really Got Me", "Dead End Street", "Stop Your Sobbing", "Sunny Afternoon" and "Lola" are simply timeless. Let’s not forget of course, one of the most perfect songs ever written, "Waterloo Sunset".
Most of the other cast members performed multiple roles tonight, but a special mention does have to go to Lisa Wright as Rasa (Ray's wife) who got most of the dramatic scenes in this show.
"Sunny Afternoon" is simply a fun show. A nostalgia trip for those of us old enough to want to take a trip down memory lane, and music that so often still sounds like it could have been made today for those too young to have listened to it first time around.
Review by Tom King (c) 2026
www.artsreviewsedinburgh.com