Sunshine on Leith to play at Pitlochry Festival Theatre this winter
A brand new production of Sunshine on Leith is to play at Pitlochry Festival Theatre this winter.
Stephen Greenhorn’s much-loved musical featuring the songs from world-renowned Scottish band The Proclaimers, will run from 17 November – 23 December 2023.
Elizabeth Newman directs with new musical arrangements by David Shrubsole.
Sunshine on Leith’s exciting cast will feature Finlay Bain (Trainspotting Live, Seabright Productions, Black Watch, National Theatre of Scotland tour, The Straw Chair, Finborough Theatre and the lead in the feature film Meet you in Scotland, Reel One Entertainment) as Ally; Robbie Scott (Peter Pan and Wendy and Group Portrait in a Summer Landscape, Pitlochry Festival Theatre) as Davy, Sinead Kenny (My Fair Lady, London Coliseum, and UK tours of Aladdin, Rock of Ages, 9-5, West Side Story and Annie) as Yvonne; Keith Macpherson (Stan and Ollie, BBC Films and A Streetcar Named Desire, Pitlochry Festival Theatre) as Rab, Scottish singer Alyson Orr (Sunshine on Leith, Pitlochry Festival Theatre and Rikki and Me, Scottish tour) as Jean; Jessica Dives ( A Christmas Carol, Shakespeare North Playhouse) as Eilidh; Fiona Wood (Peter Pan and Wendy, Pitlochry Festival Theatre) as Liz; and Charlotte Grayson (Lord of the Rings, Watermill Theatre and A Christmas Carol, Dundee Rep) as Hazel.
The cast is completed by Trudy Ward (Gypsy and To the Bone, Pitlochry Festival Theatre); Jake Reynolds (currently appearing as Doody in the West End production of Grease) and Royal Conservatoire of Scotland graduates Callum Marshall (Sunshine on Leith, UK tour and A Christmas Carol, Bolton Octagon) and James Dawoud (Aladdin, Beacon Arts Centre).
Sunshine on Leith sees the return of service members Davy and Ally from war overseas, to be confronted with civilian life relationships, blind dates, and new responsibilities. As the pair embark on intertwining journeys of love, they begin to question what home really means to them as they rediscover their sense of identity.
Set to the classic songs of the much-loved The Proclaimers, including I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles), Letter from America and of course the emotive Sunshine on Leith, this feel-good Scottish musical asks the question, would you walk 500 miles for love?
The production has musical direction by Richard Reeday with set design by Adrian Rees, costume design by Julie Carlin and lighting design by Kate Bonney.
Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s Artistic Director Elizabeth Newman said: “We are thrilled to announce that we are creating a brand-new version of Sunshine on Leith to entertain audiences this Christmas. After the hugely successful sold-out production that we made with Capital Theatres last summer we couldn’t resist the chance to make a new production for audiences this Festive Season to celebrate the greatest and most loved Scottish musical by Stephen Greenhorn. Once again, Stephen will be joining me in rehearsals along with a cracking company of actors who’ll be singing their hearts out to the awesome Proclaimers classic hit songs.”
Playwright Stephen Greenhorn added: “I’m thrilled that Sunshine in Leith will be returning to Pitlochry Festival Theatre later this year. Their production was simply joyous, and I can’t wait to see it again.”
Sunshine on Leith was originally staged at Dundee Rep in 2007 before being transformed into the 2013 smash hit feature film adaptation starring Jane Horrocks and Peter Mullan.
For more information and tickets, visit www.pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com
