Review | Sunny Afternoon | Manchester Palace Theatre | 15 October 2025
- Jonathan Rawlinson
- Oct 16
- 2 min read
Few bands capture the spirit of 1960s Britain quite like The Kinks. Returning for a new UK tour, this four-time Olivier Award-winning musical aims to chart the band’s rise to fame, and the chaos and clashes that came with it. On paper, it should make the perfect, gritty biographical musical. In practice, Sunny Afternoon is a little too sanitised to truly thrill.
Miriam Buether’s set design makes a strong first impression, with the stage walls littered with speakers and amplifiers, taking you right into the world of the band. Although there are moments where the lighting is used to great effect, there is little else to then excite as the show progresses. Scene transitions feel clunky with stagehands visually seen moving set pieces. Perhaps this is meant to represent the bands crew, but regardless of its intention it felt distracting and disrupted any momentum.
The songs are what people will inevitably come for, and on that it doesn’t disappoint, delivering all the classics. Usually, an empty orchestra pit fills me with dread, however for this show every single note played comes by those on stage. Even playing the same brands of instruments that The Kinks used, they sound incredible delivering all the classics with authenticity. When the show leans into the music, it really has chance to shine.
It is however the book that sadly lets this show down. On paper the Kinks story should make an exciting and gripping show, however here it feels lightweight. The script opts for a more sanitised version of events, resulting in a frustrating lack of excitement and tension. The end of act one gives a glimmer of grit to come, with a violent moment making you sit up in your seat. However the second act never lives up to this tease and the pacing suffers as a result.
Oliver Hoare however injects some much-welcomed anarchy in his portrayal of Dave Davies. Hoare completely captures both his swagger and vulnerability, while providing the show’s few moments of excitement. His energy and unpredictability are a reminder of what Sunny Afternoon could be if it embraced a bit more chaos.
The finale finally delivers the rush the rest of the evening only hints at, with a rousing medley of Kinks classics getting the audience on their feet. In these final moments, the show really comes alive. It offers a glimmer into what the show is capable of, even if it comes a little too late. Sunny Afternoon might not reach the heights of other bio-musicals like Beautiful or Tina (arriving at the Palace next month), but this love letter to The Kinks will give fans enough nostalgia for an enjoyable night out at the theatre.
Sunny Afternoon plays at Manchester Palace Theatre until Saturday 18 October 2025.
Note: My ticket was gifted. Irrespective of whether a ticket is gifted or bought, I always ensure that my reviews are fair and based on my honest opinion alone.
