Sunny Afternoon UK Tour: Kinks jukebox musical has really got me ★★★★ by Niles, for Front Row Frankie.

Sunny Afternoon, The Kinks jukebox musical currently touring the UK, is nothing short of a sensation. I walked into the Marlowe Theatre expecting a fun night out; I walked out convinced I’d just seen one of the best jukebox musicals ever staged. It really got – it really got me now – to the point where I didn’t know what I was doing other than basking in Ray Davies’ glory. This show towers above its genre. It makes Mamma Mia! look fragile and makes We Will Rock You look downright silly.   

Sunny Afternoon first burst onto the scene in 2014 and follows the early life of Kinks frontman Ray Davies and the formation of the band, all told through their iconic music. In this production, we saw Ray played by alternate Morgan Burgess – a performance so uncannily good you’d be forgiven for thinking a young Ray Davies had wandered onto the stage himself. The cast play their instruments live, which injects the whole production with a thrilling authenticity. It doesn’t just recreate the 1960s – it throws you head-first into it. The energy, the grit, the humour, the chaos of swinging London rock culture, all come roaring to life. 

A common jukebox problem is the “unnatural song moment,” where a scene exists solely to justify squeezing in one more hit. Our House comes to mind as an example, with entire scenes feeling surplus to requirements just to make room for another ‘Madness’ track. Sunny Afternoon however, never falls into this trap. Every song flows seamlessly from the story. Nothing feels forced. Nothing feels wedged in. This is in part testament to Ray Davies’ songwriting – Kinks songs are stories in themselves, full of character, wit, and social commentary. They don’t interrupt the narrative; they enrich it.   

The production captures the chaotic brilliance of The Kinks’ rise: the sibling tensions, the creative battles, the industry pressures, and the sheer electricity of their sound. The cast deliver performances that feel lived-in rather than imitated, and the live onstage musicianship gives the whole show a thrilling immediacy. It’s funny, it’s moving, it’s loud in all the right ways, and it has a swagger that feels unmistakably, unapologetically Kinks. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or someone who only vaguely recognises ‘Waterloo Sunset’, or the Freeview advert with the tadpoles dancing to ‘You Really Got Me’, Sunny Afternoon sweeps you up and doesn’t let go. It’s vibrant, heartfelt, and effortlessly cool – a masterclass in how to do a jukebox musical properly. This show doesn’t just shine – it dazzles. I’d happily watch Sunny Afternoon for all of the day and all of the night.