Sunny Afternoon – Review – Leeds Grand Theatre

By Gail Schuster, February 2026

Before Oasis and the volatile relationship of the Gallagher brothers, there was Ray and Dave Davies of The Kinks. Despite the complexities of sibling rivalry and personality clashes, they went on to have 17 top twenty singles and five top 10 albums in the UK. As well as eventual success in the United States, they became a highly influential British group of the 60s, selling over 50 million records worldwide.

Sunny Afternoon charts the band’s rise from youthful, humble beginnings in north London’s Muswell Hill, when Dave was only 16 years old, and they were first signed by Pye Records. It follows their journey to major commercial success, despite the rocky relationships between the brothers, and with their management. The story also includes their four-year ban from America, which occurred after Ray hit a musicians’ union official.

“Memorable”

The Kinks have a fabulous back catalogue of work including, amongst others, the groundbreaking ‘You Really Got Me’, often cited as the first record to use power chords and distorted guitar, a sound discovered by Dave when he slashed his speaker with a razorblade. However, despite the constant sequence of hit after hit, and what should have been an engaging story of fraternal strife, youthful rebellion and success, the resulting production felt a bit flat at times and let down by the dialogue. It lacked the spark and vitality that defined the group’s music, leaving some moments that should have been electrifying, somewhat subdued.

The American ban resulted in Ray Davies, the principal songwriter, turning away from the heavier, ‘You Really Got Me’ and ‘All Day and All of the Night’ to subjects with which he was familiar, producing songs which offer social commentary as well as his memorable melodies and trademark wit. These songs are woven into the show; ‘Well Respected Man’, is a witty critique of middle-class respectability and hypocrisy. ‘Dedicated Follower of Fashion’ mocks the fickle trends of the fashion conscious, whilst ‘Dead End Street’ shifts the tone, capturing the grim realities of working-class life. ‘Sunny Afternoon’, became an anthem of optimism in the summer of 1966, when England revelled in its world cup victory and which is celebrated by the cast’s vibrant rendition, bringing to life the infectious joy and carefree spirit of the time.

“Iconic hits”

The set by Miriam Buether, is a clever design with a backdrop of speakers of varying sizes and types. Minimal furnishings are brought on as needed to depict settings such as a bedroom or the Davies’ lounge. However, throughout the performance, instruments remain on stage, always ready to be picked up and played by the performers. Those who portray The Kinks especially, are all talented musicians. The soundtrack is central to this production and stands out as the most enjoyable aspect.

The story of the group concludes with the final storytelling segment, based around ‘Waterloo Sunset’. The show then ends with an uplifting medley of The Kinks’ songs in the form of a live concert, including the ahead of its time, ‘Lola’. This had the audience on their feet, clapping and dancing along.

Sunny Afternoon offers audiences an opportunity to journey through the creative legacy of The Kinks. Whilst the piece showcases their innovative artistic achievements and social commentary, some of the dynamism in their music is at times missing from the production. Nevertheless, this live performance brought their iconic hits to life, and it is a celebration of the enduring impact and influence of one of Britain’s most significant groups.

‘Sunny Afternoon’ is at Leeds Grand Theatre until 28th February

Gail Schuster( Writer )

Gail is a woman with many interests.  She loves a bracing walk through the countryside, filling her lungs with air and enjoying the flora and fauna along the way. An animal lover, she has found herself sharing her home with creatures with four, six and eight legs, though some of the ones with a higher number of legs have been introduced by her daughter! A keen theatre goer, Gail once ran the entertainment section of her work’s social club. When she’s not walking or enjoying a performance, you can usually find her in the garden or cooking up something in the kitchen. An enthusiastic home cook who likes to try her hand at new dishes which are mostly appreciated by her husband and daughter, broccoli roulade or cauliflower pizza aside. Able to converse in several languages, Gail eventually found her cosy corner in her adopted Yorkshire.

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