A medley of some of The Kinks’ best-loved songs had the Oxford audience on its feet as Sunny Afternoon closed at the New Theatre last night.
This touring production sweeps you back to the early 1960s, when a scrappy north London band (billed here as the “original bad boys” of British rock ’n’ roll) find themselves propelled from pub gigs to the charts after landing a record deal and releasing You Really Got Me.
At the centre of the story are the band’s famously combustible brothers, Ray Davies (Danny Horn) and Dave Davies (Oliver Hoare), alongside drummer Mick Avory (Zakarie Stokes) and bassist Pete Quaife (Harry Curley). The show focuses on the early years: the creation of that iconic guitar riff, the harsh realities of early contracts, bitter in-fighting, mental health struggles, and the pressures of sudden fame.
The narrative doesn’t shy away from the darker chapters (including the infamous Cardiff gig where the set ended abruptly after Mick struck Dave with a cymbal stand, sending him to hospital) and the extraordinary moment the band became, at the time, the only group effectively banned from touring the United States. That all happens within a short span of years, and the show conveys just how relentless that rise (and strain) really was.
Musically, it’s a feast. What lands most strongly is not just the volume of recognisable hits, but the breadth of what The Kinks produced: Sunny Afternoon, Lola, Waterloo Sunset and many more, woven into the story with real momentum. You may leave with a renewed appreciation for how much of British pop’s DNA runs through their catalogue.
The production is energetic and often very funny, with real warmth in its portrayal of the Davies brothers, affectionate one moment, brutal the next. Costume design deserves a special mention too: the looks are sharp, period-perfect and add to the sense of the era without turning the show into a museum piece.
The standout moment comes late on, when the cast explodes back on stage (and into the aisles) for a celebratory medley of hits. It’s the kind of sequence that reminds you why jukebox musicals work when they’re done properly: the theatre turns into a gig, and the crowd is more than happy to join in.
There are also smaller highlights worth watching for: the wedding scene, which is genuinely hilarious; the band’s a cappella Thank You for the Days; and Lisa Wright, who brings real charm and emotional weight, particularly in I Go to Sleep.
Sunny Afternoon – New Theatre Oxford
- Dates: Tue 10 – Sat 14 February 2026
- Running time: 2hrs 40mins (including interval)
- Times: Tue–Sat 7.30pm; Wed/Fri/Sat 2.30pm
- Age guidance: 12+ (strong language); no under-5s or babies in arms
- Venue: New Theatre Oxford, 24–26 George St, Oxford OX1 2AG
- Tickets/info: atgtickets.com
Fun fact: Oxford’s Kinks connection
Oxford is also where The Kinks made their official debut under their iconic new name. On 1 February 1964, they played Oxford Town Hall for the first time as The Kinks, having dropped their earlier name, The Ravens.
About the show
Following two phenomenal years in London’s West End and a first UK and Ireland tour, the Olivier Award-winning musical Sunny Afternoon returns to theatres across the country.
With music and lyrics by Ray Davies, a book by Joe Penhall, an original story by Ray Davies and direction by Edward Hall, the show tells the story of friendship, fame and fallouts at the heart of one of Britain’s most influential bands.
Danny Horn stars as Ray Davies, alongside Oliver Hoare as Dave Davies, Harry Curley as Peter Quaife and Zakarie Stokes as Mick Avory.
The production features era-defining hits including:
- You Really Got Me
- Lola
- All Day and All of the Night
- Waterloo Sunset
UK Tour Dates 2026
| City | Venue | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Oxford | New Theatre | Tue 10 – Sat 14 February |
| Nottingham | Theatre Royal | Tue 17 – Sat 21 February |
| Leeds | Grand Theatre | Tue 24 – Sat 28 February |
| Malvern | Malvern Theatres | Tue 3 – Sat 7 March |
| Torquay | Princess Theatre | Tue 17 – Sat 21 March |
| Milton Keynes | Milton Keynes Theatre | Tue 24 – Sat 28 March |
| Richmond | Richmond Theatre | Tue 31 March – Sat 4 April |
| Stoke | Regent Theatre | Tue 7 – Sat 11 April |
| Stockton | Stockton Globe | Tue 14 – Sat 18 April |
| Leicester | Curve Theatre | Tue 21 – Sat 25 April |
| Blackpool | Grand Theatre | Tue 28 April – Sat 2 May |
| Edinburgh | Edinburgh Playhouse | Tue 5 – Sat 9 May |
| Inverness | Eden Court | Tue 12 – Sat 16 May |
| Liverpool | Empire Theatre | Tue 19 – Sat 23 May |
| Cardiff | Wales Millennium Centre | Tue 26 – Sat 30 May |
