Sunny Afternoon

Sunny Afternoon arrives in Milton Keynes as a high-energy celebration of The Kinks, and it delivers exactly what audiences will be hoping for – a loud, lively and thoroughly entertaining night driven by the band’s music.

From the opening moments, the production leans into its biggest strength: the sound. With the actors performing as the band themselves, there’s a raw authenticity to the music that gives the show a real edge. It doesn’t feel like a traditional musical with a hidden orchestra; instead, it plays out like a live gig unfolding on stage, full of swagger and punch. When the show embraces that concert feel, it becomes genuinely exhilarating, with the biggest numbers landing with real impact and lifting the atmosphere in the auditorium.

The cast carry this brilliantly. There’s a strong sense of chemistry between the band members, and the performances are confident, energetic and musically tight. Vocally, the show rarely puts a foot wrong, and the commitment to playing live throughout adds an extra layer of credibility that keeps you engaged.

The music itself does much of the heavy lifting. With a catalogue as strong as The Kinks’, the show is packed with familiar hits that bring both nostalgia and excitement. Even for those who may not know every song, there’s an undeniable momentum that builds as the evening goes on, culminating in a finale that leaves the audience buzzing.

Where the production is slightly less convincing is in its storytelling. The narrative, charting the band’s rise and internal tensions, occasionally feels a little uneven. The first half can take time to settle, and some of the more complex relationships and conflicts don’t always land with the depth they perhaps deserve. That said, once the show finds its rhythm, the second half brings everything together far more effectively.

Overall, Sunny Afternoon is an enjoyable and energetic musical that thrives on its music and performances. It may not always dig as deeply into the drama as it could, but when the guitars kick in and the band hits its stride, it becomes exactly what it should be – a vibrant, feel-good celebration of one of Britain’s most iconic groups.