A quartet of young actors will recreate the iconic line-up of hit 1960s band The Kinks in Hampstead Theatre’s forthcoming musical biopic Sunny Afternoon.
John Dagleish, George Maguire, Adam Sopp and recent RADA graduate Ned Derrington will take on the roles of the rock ‘n’ roll legends when the world premiere of Joe Penhall’s story about the band’s rise to fame plays from 14 April to 24 May.
Dagleish will lead the production as lead singer Ray Davies, whose music and lyrics will provide the soundtrack to the show. Hit songs including You Really Got Me, Waterloo Sunset and Lola are all set to be featured.
Last seen on stage in Out of Joint’s The Mother, Sunny Afternoon will mark the musical debut of the actor who is a more familiar face on screen, appearing in films including The Monument Men and BBC television series Truckers and Lark Rise To Candleford.
His co-stars Maguire and Sopp, who will take on the roles of lead guitarist Dave Davies and drummer Mick Avory respectively, are both more experienced in musical theatre and recreating music legends on stage.
Maguire, who most recently played Marc Bolan in Belgrade Theatre’s 20th Century Boy, has appeared in Lift at the Soho Theatre and West End musicals Hair, Fame and Oliver!, while Sopp, who recently appeared in site-specific piece The El Train, originated the role of Ringo Starr in the West End’s Beatles biopic Backbeat.
Marking the 50th anniversary of The Kink’s debut release, Sunny Afternoon focuses on the early life of Davies and the band against the backdrop of a country caught mid-swing between the conservative 50s and the riotous 60s.
Directed by Hampstead Theatre’s Artistic Director Edward Hall, the production is based on an original story by Davies and will feature choreography by newly announced creative team member Adam Cooper.