Full casting & additional dates announced for Sunny Afternoon UK tour

Full casting and additional dates have been announced for the national tour of Sunny Afternoon.

Former West End Frame Understudy of the Year runner-up Ryan O'Donnell will star as ‘Ray Davies’.

The cast also includes: Mark Newnham as ‘Dave Davies’, Garmon Rhys as ‘Pete Quaife’ and Andrew Gallo as ‘Mick Avory’. 

Sunny Afternoon announces West End closure

The West End production of Sunny Afternoon will close at the Harold Pinter Theatre on 29th October 2016, after more than two years in the West End.

Following its premiere at the Hampstead Theatre, Sunny Afternoon transferred to the West End in October 2014.

A new production will begin touring the UK this summer, opening at the Manchester Opera House on 19th August 2016.

The current cast includes Danny Horn as Ray Davies, Oliver Hoare as Dave Davies, Tom Whitelock as Pete Quaife and Damien Walsh as Mick Avory. At certain performances, the role of Ray Davies is played by Ryan O’Donnell.

Big Interview: George Maguire

George Maguire is currently starring as Macheath in the world premiere of new musical The Buskers Opera at the Park Theatre. 

Written by Dougal Irvine, the show is in its final week with only limited tickets available. Lotte Wakeham directs with the cast also including Lauren Samuels and David Burt.

George won the 2015 Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for originating the role of Dave Davies in The Kinks musical, Sunny Afternoon. George worked on the show from its very first workshop before going on to star in Sunny Afternoon’s run at the Hampstead Theatre and its subsequent West End transfer to the Harold Pinter Theatre.

His theatre credits also include: Busker in Lift (Soho), Marc Bolan in 20th Centuryboy (Coventry Belgrade/New Woseley), Berger in Hair (Piccadilly), David in Bank (Kings Head), Richard Loeb in Thrill Me (Charing Cross), Joe Vegas in Fame (Shaftesbury), understudy Stu Clutterbuck in Tonight's The Night (UK tour) and Captain in Oliver! (Palladium).

I recently spoke to George about why he’s attracted to new work, what drew him to The Buskers Opera, his whirlwind journey with Sunny Afternoon and childhood dream of being in Les Mis…

You’ve become known for taking on new musicals – you went straight from Lift into Sunny Afternoon and now into The Buskers Opera. What attracts you to these kinds of projects?

New work is one of the main things that keeps me going. I’ve been very fortunate – I’ve never gone into a show which is has already been running and done a takeover. I’m very much about doing new musicals because, as an actor, it’s very exciting to be able to create a role and to be part of a piece which is brand new. Everyone in the rehearsal room was coming up with it for the first time which for me is one of the best things about acting. It’s nice to not just be told where to stand and what to do. New musical theatre is something we should be supporting, especially in London, and it’s amazing that there is so much more new writing around now.

Sunny Afternoon extends West End booking to October 2016

Sunny Afternoon has extended its West End booking period at the Harold Pinter Theatre to 29th October 2016. 

Following its premiere at the Hampstead Theatre, Sunny Afternoon transferred to the West End in October 2014. 

A production will begin touring the UK this summer, opening at the Manchester Opera House on 19th August 2016.

Ray Davies said: "I am delighted that Sunny Afternoon is extending in the West End and starting the national tour, playing many of the same venues The Kinks played on the road. Every time I visit the West End show I see people discovering it for the first time with the performances going from strength to strength.”

West End Frame Awards 2015: Full Winners List

Readers of West End Frame were invited to vote for four awards throughout 2015. The West End Frame Awards recognise brand new and long-running plays and musicals, combining male and female actors into the same categories. Voting opens for one award at a time. Take a look at the full list of winners below:

Publicly Voted Awards

	Best West End Debut Matt Cardle for playing Huey Calhoun in Memphis Runners Up Danny Horn for Sunny Afternoon Marcquelle Ward for Cats Click here for full result / Photo Credit: Helen Maybanks
	Best Performance of a Song in a Musical John Dagleish for his rendition of 'Waterloo Sunset' in Sunny Afternoon Runners Up Jon Jon Briones for ‘American Dream’ in Miss Saigon Kerry Ellis for ‘Memory’ in Cats Click here for full result / Photo Credit: Kevin Cummins
	Understudy of the Year Jacqueline Hughes for standing by as Elphaba in Wicked (UK Tour) Runners Up Zoë Birkett for The Bodyguard Ryan O'Donnell for Sunny Afternoon Click here for full result
	Most Inspiring West End Show Sunny Afternoon at the Harold Pinter Theatre Runners Up Memphis at the Shaftesbury Theatre Miss Saigon at the Prince Edward Theatre Click here for full result / Photo Credit: Kevin Cummins

Sunny Afternoon to launch national tour

As the musical continues to play to West End audiences into its second year, it has been announced that Sunny Afternoon will launch a national tour.

The touring production will open at the Manchester Opera House on Friday 19th August 2016. Check out tour dates below. 

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. 

Original Sunny Afternoon cast reunite for concert

It has been announced that members of the original Sunny Afternoon cast will reunite for a one-night-only concert next year.

The show takes place at the Richmond Theatre on Sunday 17th January 2016 at 7.30pm.

Three months after leaving the show, West End Frame Award winner John Dagleish, George Maguire, Ned Derrington and Adam Sopp will perform The Kinks’ greatest hits as well as some other live music.

Production Pics: New cast join Sunny Afternoon

Production images featuring the new Sunny Afternoon cast have been released. Check out the pictures below (click image to enlarge).

Sunny Afternoon now stars Danny Horn as Ray Davies, Oliver Hoare as Dave Davies, Tom Whitelock as Pete Quaife and Damien Walsh as drummer Mick Avory. West End Frame Understudy of the Year runner-up Ryan O’Donnell plays Ray Davies at certain performances.

Sneak peek at the new cast of Sunny Afternoon

First images of the new Sunny Afternoon cast have been released. Check out the pictures below (click image to enlarge).

From 5th October, Sunny Afternoon will star Danny Horn as Ray Davies, Oliver Hoare as Dave Davies, Tom Whitelock as Pete Quaife and Damien Walsh as drummer Mick Avory. West End Frame Understudy of the Year runner-up Ryan O’Donnell will play Ray Davies at certain performances.

The cast will also include: Jason Baughan, Niamh Bracken, Christopher Brandon, Harriet Bunton, Alice Cardy, Oliver Hoare, Danny Horn, Gillian Kirkpatrick, Jay Marsh, Megan Leigh Mason, Ryan O’Donnell, Stephen Pallister, Charlie Tighe, Gabriel Vick, Damien Walsh and Tom Whitelock. Completing the company are: Lloyd Gorman, Lia Given, Vicki Manser, Kay Milbourne, Nick Sayce, Robert Took, Alex Tosh and Robbie White.

Sunny Afternoon announces new West End cast

Sunny Afternoon, which tells the story of the rise to fame of The Kinks, has announced the actors taking over from its original cast.

Danny Horn (Doctor Who; The Dead Dogs) will play Ray Davies, with Oliver Hoare (Antony and Cleopatra, Chichester) as Dave Davies, Tom Whitelock (Times Square Angel, Union) as bassist Pete Quaife and Damien Walsh (Dreamboats and Petticoats) as drummer Mick Avory. At certain performances, the role of Ray Davies will be played by Ryan O’Donnell (Romeo and Juliet, RSC; Quadrophenia).

Sunny Afternoon extends West End booking

British musical Sunny Afternoon has extended its booking period at the Harold Pinter Theatre to 16th April 2016. New tickets for the show - which tells the story of the rise to fame of The Kinks - are on sale now.

With a book by Joe Penhall, music and lyrics and original story by Ray Davies, and directed by Edward Hall, Sunny Afternoon transferred to the West End in October 2014 following its world premiere at the Hampstead Theatre.

The show's star John Dagleish (Ray Davies) recently won the West End Frame Award for Best Performance of a Song for his rendition of 'Waterloo Sunset’. Earlier this year he also won Best Actor in a Musical at the Olivier Awards where Sunny Afternoon was the best performing show, winning four awards including Best New Musical.

Sunny Afternoon's John Dagleish & Zoё Wanamaker join Kenneth Branagh season

It has been confirmed that West End Frame Award winner John Dagleish will play Autolycus in The Winter's Tale which opens the inaugural season of the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company.

The Winter's Tale runs between 17th October 2015 and 16th January 2016 at the Garrick Theatre in rep with Harlequinade in which Dagleish will play a policeman. Shakespeareʼs timeless tragicomedy of obsession and redemption is reimagined in a new production co-directed by Rob Ashford and Branagh, following their staging of Macbeth in Manchester and Manhattan.

Sunny Afternoon's John Dagleish wins Best Performance of a Song Award!

We are delighted to announced that John Dagleish has won West End Frame's Best Performance of a Song Award for his spellbinding rendition of 'Waterloo Sunset’ in Sunny Afternoon.

Speaking to West End Frame, Dagleish said: "This is such an amazing honour seeing as it was voted for by the public. We're not at the biggest theatre in the West End but we obviously have the best fans, and it's them I want to thank for making this happen. So thank you! You know who you are!

"Also, it can't have hurt my chances of winning when I was nominated for singing one of the greatest songs ever written. Thank you Ray!! Waterloo Sunset's fine!"

Sunny Afternoon, which tells the story of the early life of Ray Davies and the rise to stardom of The Kinks, transferred to the West End's Harold Pinter Theatre last year following its premiere at the Hampstead Theatre. Dagleish recently picked up the Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Ray Davies in the show.

Full result announced for Best Performance of a Song 2015

John Dagleish has won West End Frame's Best Performance of a Song Award for his rendition of 'Waterloo Sunset’ in Sunny Afternoon. Jon Jon Briones finishes second for his performance of ‘American Dream’ in Miss Saigon whilst Kerry Ellis comes third for her rendition of ‘Memory’ in Cats. Check out the full result below!

WINNER

John Dagleish 

‘Waterloo Sunset’ in Sunny Afternoon 

21% of the final vote / Photo Credit: Kevin Cummins

Sunny Afternoon, Beautiful, The Young Vic, Angela Lansbury & Wicked + more win Olivier Awards

The winners of the Olivier Awards 2015 were announced last night (12th April 2015) at the Royal Opera House.

Hosted by Lenny Henry, the ceremony was closed with Kevin Spacey and Beverley Knight giving a rendition of 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' with the full Oliviers Orchestra and the 90-strong Arts Educational Choir under Musical Director Larry Blank.

Hampstead Theatre and the Young Vic were the big winners of the night, winning four awards each. Hampstead Theatre's hugely successful West End transfer Sunny Afternoon was crowned Best New Musical and received acting nods for its stars John Dagleish and George Maguire (Best Actor in a Musical and Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical) who play brothers Ray and Dave Davies in The Kinks musical. Legendary musician Ray Davies had further cause to celebrate when he recieved the Autograph Sound Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music for the Sunny Afternoon score.

Sunny Afternoon announces new West End cast

Sunny Afternoon has announced its new West End cast who will join original cast members from 6th April 2015.

Joining the cast are Jason Baughan in the role of Eddie Kassner and Jo Servi as Gregory Piven. Also joining the company, as understudies, will be Lia Given, Lloyd Gorman, Vicki Manser, Kay Milbourne, Ryan O’Donnell, Robbie White and Silas Wyatt-Barke.

Sunny Afternoon is currently booking until 24th October 2015, at the Harold Pinter Theatre.

Sunny Afternoon named Most Inspiring West End Show; full result announced

John Dagleish in Sunny Afternoon

Sunny Afternoon has been voted Most Inspiring West End Show by the readers of West End Frame. Marking the first West End Frame Award of 2015, theatregoers chose the musical out of twenty nominated productions. 

Sunny Afternoon, which tells the story of the early life of Ray Davies and the rise to stardom of The Kinks, transferred to the West End last year following its premiere at the Hampstead Theatre. 

Currently booking at the Harold Pinter Theatre to 24th October 2015, the acclaimed cast of Sunny Afternoon includes John Dagleish as Ray Davies, George Maguire as Dave Davies, Ned Derrington as Pete Quaife and Adam Sopp as Mick Avory.

Broadway musical Memphis, which opened at the Shaftesbury Theatre last year with Beverley Knight and Killian Donnelly in starring roles, finishes second place whilst the West End revival of Miss Saigon at the Prince Edward Theatre finishes third.

Completing the runners-up are Les Miserables (Queen’s) and Cats (London Palladium). Check out the full result below. London is home to some of the most inspiring theatre in the world. This award was a celebration of all those shows which leave audiences with a spring in their step - whether people are left with tears of joy or sadness, all the nominated shows make a mark on their audiences.

Sunny Afternoon extends West End booking to October 2015

Sunny Afternoon has announced a further extension to its West End run. It is now booking until 24th October 2015 at the Harold Pinter Theatre.

The new musical, which tells the story of the early life of Ray Davies and the rise to stardom of The Kinks, recently celebrated its 100th performance.

Fifty years ago, The Kinks were sitting at Number One in the UK charts with their fifth single ‘Tired of Waiting For You’.  The cast of Sunny Afternoon includes John Dagleish as Ray Davies, George Maguire as Dave Davies, Ned Derrington as Pete Quaife and Adam Sopp as Mick Avory.

Review: Sunny Afternoon at the Harold Pinter Theatre

Sunny Afternoon

Harold Pinter Theatre

Reviewed on Saturday 25th October 2014

★★★★

Sunny Afternoon has hit the West End with a breath of fresh air. 

Following the rise of The Kinks with particular interest to Ray Davies' life story, Sunny Afternoon is loud, funny and utterly charming. The show premiered at the Hampstead Theatre earlier this year and is clearly ready for West End audiences; it's so nice to see a new musical open in the theatre capital of the world which isn't in need of a major revamp!

Sunny Afternoon extends West End run to May 2015

Sunny Afternoon, which officially opens in the West End tomorrow (28th October) has extended its run at the Harold Pinter Theatre to 23rd May 2015. The cast album is released today.

Edward Hall's production stars John Dagleish as Ray Davies, George Maguire as Dave Davies, Ned Derrington as Pete Quaife and Adam Sopp as Mick Avory.

The cast also includes: Carly Anderson, Philip Bird, Ashley Campbell, Ben Caplan, Lillie Flynn, Emily Goodenough, Elizabeth Hill, Vince Leigh, Amy Ross, Dominic Tighe and Tam Williams.