Review of Sunny Afternoon at Milton Keynes Theatre

Sunny Afternoon, the Kinks-inspired jukebox musical, debuted on stage in 2014. Featuring Ray Davies' music and a book by Joe Penhall, it first found success in London before a UK tour in 2016/17. Now arriving at Milton Keynes Theatre with a new 2025/6 tour, the question remains: with some songs now over 60 years old, is Sunny Afternoon still relevant to today's audiences?

While this is a jukebox musical, this show follows, via this system, the story of the formation and eventual success of The Kinks rather than creating a random story from the songs. Opening with the band The Ravens, the group is safe and sophisticated, with their prim-and-proper lead singer. However, the true band of the future, Ray Davies, Dave Davies, Mick Avory and Pete Quaife, are itching for freedom, to break away, especially writer Ray, who wants to create songs that mean something to people. Enter the suits of management, and the rocky creation of The Kinks begins.

I had the pleasure of seeing Sunny Afternoon nine years ago on a previous tour, and the show instantly moved into my top five musicals. Now on its brand new tour, still under the direction of Edward Hall, the production design has been tweaked a little, with, in particular, the central raised catwalk into the stalls disposed of, but the show still uses the theatre aisles vibrantly, bringing the audience into the joy, yes, immense joy, that Sunny Afternoon brings to theatres.

The cast is top-notch, led by Danny Horn’s intense, layered Ray. Horn masterfully balances simmering rage and musical talent. His dynamic with Oliver Hoare, who plays the lively, impulsive Dave, injects a vibrant spark into the show.

Harry Curley is a brilliant, wimpish Pete Quaife, the bassist with amazing talent, but an awkwardness that makes him hate the success the band begins to find. Completing the group is drummer Mick Avory, played by Zakarie Stokes in his professional stage debut; his talent and confidence are excellent, and his performance of the show's amazing drumming solo rightfully stops the show with applause.

The rest of the cast bring a vibrant, deep energy to the show, with the suits brilliantly realised once again through the show's amazing comedic approach. Tam Williams steals many a scene as the nasal Grenville Collins, but all the suits are excellent, brought into Adam Cooper’s choreography to endless amusement while maintaining their businessman style. Lisa Wright is an emotional anchor within the show as Rasa, Ray’s wife and brings the emotional vocal high point in her solo of I Go To Sleep. Simply a beautiful song.

Musically, obviously, the show is a catalogue of magnificence as a show with The Kinks' music should be. Perhaps, technically, the lyrics are slightly missed at times because the music is a little high; however, this is such a minor issue in what remains a stunning show. The show is incredibly clever in its use of the songs, with no sledgehammer moments, and particularly brilliant moments include the acappella version of Days and the superb construction scene in Waterloo Sunset.

Sunny Afternoon remains twelve years after its first staging, an incredible show put together with obvious love by writers Ray Davies and book by Joe Penhall. After thirteen years of reviewing shows, it still holds a place in my top five musicals and remains the very best jukebox musical I have seen. If you have a love of theatre, musicals, The Kinks, or life, you should see Sunny Afternoon.

Sunny Afternoon is the very best the world of jukebox musical theatre has to offer.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Performance reviewed: Tuesday 24th March, 2026 at the Milton Keynes Theatre, Milton Keynes.

Sunny Afternoon runs at Milton Keynes Theatre until Saturday, 28th March 2026.

For further details about Milton Keynes, see their website at http://www.atgtickets.com/venues/milton-keynes-theatre/

For further details of the tour, see the website at https://www.thekinksmusical.com/

Photographs: Manuel Harlan

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