Sunny Afternoon Tour Tickets 2026–2027

Sunny Afternoon is the Olivier Award-winning Kinks jukebox musical, charting the euphoric highs and agonising lows of Ray Davies and The Kinks’ rise from North London lads to 1960s rock legends with hits like You Really Got Me, Lola and Waterloo Sunset. Sunny Afternoon – The Kinks Musical – hits the road across the UK and Ireland. This electrifying, feel-good show is rocking into a theatre near you.

Date	City	Venue	Tickets
Tue 17 Mar 2026 - Sat 21 Mar 2026	Torquay	Princess Theatre	Tickets
Tue 24 Mar 2026 - Sat 28 Mar 2026	Milton Keynes	Milton Keynes Theatre	Tickets
Tue 31 Mar 2026 - Sat 4 Apr 2026	Richmond	Richmond Theatre	Tickets
Tue 7 Apr 2026 - Sat 11 Apr 2026	Stoke-on-Trent	Regent Theatre	Tickets
Tue 14 Apr 2026 - Sat 18 Apr 2026	Stockton-on-Tees	Stockton Globe	Tickets
Tue 21 Apr 2026 - Sat 25 Apr 2026	Leicester	Curve Leicester	Tickets
Tue 28 Apr 2026 - Sat 2 May 2026	Blackpool	The Grand Theatre	Tickets
Tue 5 May 2026 - Sat 9 May 2026	Edinburgh	Edinburgh Playhouse	Tickets
Tue 12 May 2026 - Sat 16 May 2026	Inverness	Eden Court	Tickets
Tue 19 May 2026 - Sat 23 May 2026	Liverpool	Liverpool Empire	Tickets
Tue 26 May 2026 - Sat 30 May 2026	Cardiff	Wales Millennium Centre	Tickets

Why You Need to See It

• Sunny Afternoon charts the rise of The Kinks from North London misfits to reluctant rock superstars against a backdrop of swinging‑60s Britain, giving you an inside view of sibling rivalry, class tension, creative breakthroughs and the cost of sudden fame while their songs are performed live around the story.
• The musical began at Hampstead Theatre in 2014 and quickly transferred to the Harold Pinter Theatre, where it ran for two years in the West End and was seen by more than 430,000 people, before touring the UK and Ireland to a further 300,000, establishing itself as one of the standout British jukebox musicals of the 2010s.
• Its book by Joe Penhall, based on an original story by Ray Davies, avoids a rose‑tinted “greatest hits” approach and instead digs into label exploitation, union battles, the band’s US touring ban and Ray’s mental health struggles, making the show feel more like a drama powered by songs than a nostalgic tribute concert.
• The original West End cast featured John Dagleish as Ray Davies, George Maguire as Dave Davies, Adam Sopp as drummer Mick Avory and Ned Derrington as bassist Pete Quaife, with Dagleish and Maguire both winning Olivier Awards for their performances, capturing the odd blend of poetry, volatility and humour that defined the band.
• Recent productions and the upcoming 2025–26 runs (including dates at Alexandra Palace and on tour) cast new actor-musicians such as Danny Horn (Ray), Oliver Hoare (Dave), Harry Curley (Pete) and Zakarie Stokes (Mick), who play their instruments on stage and perform the score live, adding to the feeling that you are watching a band gig as well as a musical.
• The score uses The Kinks’ catalogue to tell the story chronologically, with numbers like You Still Want Me, You Really Got Me, All Day and All of the Night, A Well Respected Man, Dead End Street, Dedicated Follower of Fashion, Sunny Afternoon, Waterloo Sunset, Lola, Days and Come Dancing woven into key narrative moments.
• Harder, riff‑driven songs such as You Really Got Me and All Day and All of the Night capture the band’s explosive early impact, while tracks like Dead End Street and Waterloo Sunset highlight Ray’s gift for bittersweet social observation; Lola and Days arrive later as emotionally loaded reflections on identity, fame and change.
• The show’s London run earned four Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical and Outstanding Achievement in Music for Ray Davies, confirming that its integration of existing songs and new dramatic context achieved something more substantial than a standard “back catalogue” show.
• Miriam Buether’s set evokes clubs, studios, TV shows and modest homes with sliding units, band platforms and period props, shifting quickly from cramped North London spaces to glossier performance environments as The Kinks’ status grows, all while keeping the band’s instruments central to the visual picture.
• Costumes track the transition from early‑60s sharp suits and schoolboy scruffiness to more flamboyant Carnaby Street fashion: skinny ties, patterned shirts, velvet jackets and later bohemian looks mark out the band’s evolution, while ensemble costumes reflect changing British youth culture as the decade progresses.
• Ray’s wardrobe subtly differentiates him from the others—more muted, slightly rumpled, “writerly” choices—whereas Dave’s increasingly outrageous outfits signal his wild‑child persona, and characters like manager Larry Page and American executives are given sharp, slightly exaggerated tailoring to embody industry power structures.
• The original London cast recording, Sunny Afternoon (The New Hit Musical Based on the Music of The Kinks), captures 29 tracks and has become a popular gateway into the band’s deeper cuts, with arrangements that respect the originals while adding theatrical harmonies and underscoring to support the story.
• Sunny Afternoon is not a children’s show: age guidance for current and upcoming runs generally recommends ages 12+, noting strong language, depictions of heavy drinking, drug references and adult themes around sex, politics and mental health; under‑4s or under‑5s are not admitted and under‑16s must be accompanied by an adult.
• For fans of The Kinks, the musical offers the thrill of hearing classics like Sunny Afternoon, Waterloo Sunset and Lola in a packed theatre with the added emotional context of Ray’s relationships, while newcomers get a crash course in one of Britain’s most influential bands and a vivid portrait of 1960s London’s culture and class shifts.
• To enhance the experience, spending time with a Kinks playlist—especially You Really Got Me, A Well Respected Man, Dedicated Follower of Fashion, Sunny Afternoon, Days, Waterloo Sunset and Lola—beforehand will help you appreciate how cleverly the show repositions each song to illuminate a specific turning point in the band’s story.

Sunny Afternoon cast on Tour

Here are the main cast members of the Sunny Afternoon UK tour, focusing on the central band members of The Kinks and their key roles in the musical.

• Danny Horn as Ray Davies
• Oliver Hoare as Dave Davies
• Harry Curley as Peter Quaife
• Zakarie Stokes as Mick Avory

More West End Musicals

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Sunny Afternoon about?

Sunny Afternoon is a jukebox musical that tells the story of The Kinks, following brothers Ray and Dave Davies and their bandmates from their early days in Muswell Hill through fame, creative breakthroughs, internal conflicts, and battles with managers and the music business. The show uses their biggest hits, including You Really Got Me, Waterloo Sunset, Lola, and Sunny Afternoon, to explore friendship, fame, and the cost of success in 1960s Britain.

Where is Sunny Afternoon playing in London?

Sunny Afternoon is playing a limited London season at Alexandra Palace Theatre, close to where the Davies brothers grew up, from 15 to 31 January 2026. The venue can be reached via Alexandra Palace rail station, Wood Green underground with connecting buses, and on-site car parking at Alexandra Palace.

Is there a Sunny Afternoon UK tour?

Yes, Sunny Afternoon is on a major UK tour from October 2025 through May 2026, starting at Manchester Palace Theatre and then visiting venues such as Nottingham Theatre Royal, Swansea Arena, Alexandra Palace in London, Canterbury Marlowe Theatre, Leeds Grand, and more. The tour is produced by Sonia Friedman Productions and plays across multiple regional cities before and after the London dates.

How long is Sunny Afternoon?

Most venues list Sunny Afternoon with a running time of about 2 hours 40 minutes including an interval, which is typical for a full-scale musical. This means an evening performance at 7:30 pm usually finishes just after 10:00 pm, while matinees at 2:30 pm end around 5:10 pm.

What is the age recommendation for Sunny Afternoon?

Age guidance is generally 12+ because the show contains strong language, references to sex and drugs, and adult themes linked to rock-and-roll life in the 1960s. Children under 5 are not admitted, and under-14s must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over, so it is not intended as a young children’s musical.

Is Sunny Afternoon suitable for teens and families?

Sunny Afternoon can be a great choice for older teens and adults who enjoy classic British rock, band biographies, and 1960s culture, with many parents bringing music-loving teenagers who already know some Kinks songs. Given the strong language and mature references, families usually wait until children are in their early teens and comfortable with realistic portrayals of fame, relationships, and excess.

Which songs are featured in Sunny Afternoon?

The show features a large catalogue of Kinks hits, including You Really Got Me, All Day and All of the Night, Sunny Afternoon, Waterloo Sunset, Lola, Dedicated Follower of Fashion, and more. These songs are performed live by the cast as the band, recreating studio sessions, concerts, and TV appearances as part of the story.

Who created Sunny Afternoon and who stars in the new tour?

Sunny Afternoon has music and lyrics by Ray Davies, a book by Joe Penhall, and direction by Edward Hall, originally premiering at Hampstead Theatre before moving to the West End. For the 2025–2026 UK tour, Danny Horn returns as Ray Davies alongside a new touring company bringing the Kinks’ story and music to venues around the country.

How can I find cheap Sunny Afternoon tickets?

Cheaper tickets are often available for midweek performances and for seats further back or to the sides of the auditorium that still offer a good view. Comparing prices on official venue and tour booking pages with special offers, group rates, and off-peak dates highlighted on the MusicalsAndTickets website is a smart way to find good-value seats for your chosen city and date.

Where can I buy Sunny Afternoon tickets and check showtimes?

The safest options for buying tickets are the official Sunny Afternoon site, Alexandra Palace Theatre and other venue box offices, and authorised ticket partners that show real-time seat maps and clear pricing. For the most accurate performance days and start times for London or any UK tour stop, it is recommended to visit the Sunny Afternoon event page on the MusicalsAndTickets website, where current showtimes are listed before you choose your tickets.