Sunshine on Leith? We’re on our way to happiness again..
The Scottish musical returns to the King’s Theatre with a
new feel-good drama packed with humour and sentiment.
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| Sunshine on Leith performers. Front Steven Miller (Davy) and Paul-James Corrigan (Ally). Photograph Manuel Harlan. Image source. |
Sunshine on Leith follows the highs and lows of Ally and
Davy (Paul-James Corrigan and Steven Miller) when they return from the army to
their home town of Leith. Proclaimers song ‘I’m On My Way’ charts their walk
from Edinburgh to Leith.
The production was a huge hit when it was first performed at
the Dundee Rep in 2007 by director James Brining, in collaboration with writer
Stephen Greenhorn.
The new, West Yorkshire Playhouse production, brings the
show up to date with 18 singalong Proclaimers songs and a moving story depicting
three relationships and family bonds.
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| Jocasta Almgill (Yvonne), Steven Miller (Davy), Paul-James Corrigan (Ally) and Neshla Caplan (Liz) in Sunshine on Leith. Photograph: Manuel Harlan. Image source. |
Ally and Davy return to their family and relationships. Liz
(Neshla Caplan), Ally’s girlfriend, has been waiting for him to return, and
takes the opportunity to set up brother Davy with her colleague Yvonne (Jocasta
Almgill).
The modernised script is filled with witty references to
Leith and Edinburgh – that kept locals engaged at the Edinburgh King’s Theatre
venue.
Songs are creatively weaved into the storyline. When Ally plans
his proposal to Liz the song ‘Let’s Get Married’ plays in the pub-set full of
Hibs fans.
Onstage musicians and energetic members of the cast create a vibrant
atmosphere with many expressive dance scenes which keep in line with the spirit
of this piece.
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| Onstage musician. Image Source. |
After the intermission the issues raised are at times
weighty with relationships becoming more turbulent. All three featured couples
have problems to resolve.
Davy and Liz’s parents (Phil McKee and Hilary Maclean)
negotiate a melodramatic crisis and they tie in the standout numbers ‘Oh Jean’
and ‘Sunshine on Leith’.
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| Parents (Hilary Maclean and Phil McKee). Image source. |
‘Letter from America’ followed by the grand finale of ‘I’m
Gonna Be’ (500 Miles) finishes the show on a high. The cast are given a rousing
ovation and they too seem to have had a ball for the preceding two hours.
Superb entertainment and footstompin’ly good.
*At King’s Theatre until Saturday 26. Visit: http://www.capitaltheatres.com/sunshineleith.
The tour then visits Aberdeen’s His Majesty’s Theatre, The Dundee Rep and the King’s Theatre in
Glasgow.
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All aboard the Maid of the Forth for a relaxing trip to Inchcolm Island
Delicious food at the Kezban Mediterranean Restaurant in Leith
Looking for your next show? Wicked is on at The Edinburgh Playhouse until June 9
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