Sunny Afternoon – New Wimbledon Theatre, Wimbledon

Music, Lyrics & Original Story: Ray Davies  
Book: Joe Penhall
Director: Edward Hall

Reviewer: Christine Stanton

“Brilliantly British“

4.5 / 5

The Kinks are arguably one of the most influential bands to impact the British music landscape since their arrival during the Swingin’ Sixties. Their distinct sound and strong identity make their music instantly recognisable, with their smart lyrics and unforgettable riffs.

Sunny Afternoon takes a trip down memory lane to the early years of the Kinks forming, and lead singer Ray Davies’ life as a whole. Although the jukebox musical crams in as many Kinks songs as possible, it still does a good job of documenting the interesting journey from the beginning of their career, albeit there are points where it is a relatively generic band storyline. Though, being that it’s a true representation of their lives it can’t be helped when there are some moments in the plot lacking a bit of oomph! Management contracts fleecing the talent, band rivalries, love interests and the process behind penning some of their biggest hits are all elements that get their moment in the spotlight, excellently performed by the talented cast.

It’s a brilliantly British tribute, with some humorous cultural references sprinkled into the plot to champion other memorable moments and figures of the time, such as England winning the world cup, John Lennon’s stint in bed or The Who being on the cusp of success. The band, despite some of their troubles are shown in a positive light, and theres a sense of pride as they work hard to build a following and carve a name for themselves in the industry. The classic music performed by cast members Danny Horn (Ray Davies), Oliver Hoare (Dave Davies), Zakarie Stokes (Mick Avory) and Harry Curley (Pete Quaife) is fantastically done, personifying the Kinks style and sound to a tee. New Wimbledon Theatre is a perfect venue for the show – with the ensemble running through the stalls at various moments in the show, partying on the side of the stage and adding an ‘audience buzz’ during the songs that make it feel like you’re actually at a Kinks concert.

An enjoyable musical that gets the audience on their feet for the final medley, dancing along to the classic hits. Expect to have their discography on repeat ‘All Day and All Of The Night’ after seeing this joyous tribute to the timeless Kinks.

Runs until 29th November 2025, then continues to tour