With the main building opening for the first time in over two years, Pitlochry Festival Theatre will welcome audiences through its doors once again, with a foot-stomping new production of Sunshine on Leith, Stephen Greenhorn’s much-loved musical featuring the songs from world-renowned Scottish band The Proclaimers.
Co-produced with Capital Theatres, Sunshine on Leith will open at Pitlochry Festival Theatre from 20 May – 2 June, then transfer to the King’s Theatre Edinburgh from 7-18 June before heading back to the Perthshire theatre from 24 June -1 October.
Originally staged at Dundee Rep in 2007 before being transformed in to the 2013 smash hit feature film adaptation starring Jane Horrocks and Peter Mullan, Sunshine on Leith sees the return of service members Davy and Ally from war overseas, to be confronted with civilian life filled with relationships, blind dates, and new responsibilities. As the pair embark on intertwining journeys in love, they begin to question what home really means to them as they rediscover their sense of identity.
Set to the classic songs of 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?
Sunshine on Leith’s excellent cast is led by Keith Jack and Connor Going, playing fellow service members and best friends Ally and Davy. Keith Jack is best-known for BBC1’s Any Dream Will Do where he was runner-up in the popular BBC talent show. His extensive theatre credits include the UK tours of Fame and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat while Connor’s credits include last year’s Pitlochry Festival Theatre production of Wind in the Willows and the touring production of The Choir of Man.
Starring alongside them are Scottish singer Alyson Orr (Cinderella, Pavilion Theatre Glasgow) as Jean; Rhiane Drummond (Dreamgirls and 9-5, West End and Heathers, UK Tour) as Yvonne; Blythe Jandoo (Wizard of Oz, Sheffield Crucible and appearing in the films Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast, Walt Disney Pictures) as Liz; Meg Chaplin (Arrival, imPOSSIBLE and The Midnight Child, UK Tour) as Eilidh; Keith Macpherson (Stan and Ollie, BBC Films and Donald and Benoit, Pitlochry Festival Theatre) and Rachael McAllister (A Christmas Carol, Pitlochry Festival Theatre) as husband-and-wife Rab and Hazel.
The cast is completed by Jessica Brydges (Peter Pan, Maltings Theatre); Richard Colvin (Sunshine on Leith, UK tour and A Christmas Carol, Bolton Octagon); Anna Fordham (The Borrowers, Watermill Theatre and The Athena, Sky); James Hudson (The Choir of Man, West End and Saturday Night Fever, West End/UK Tour); Kit Orton (Oliver, Watermill Theatre) and making his professional stage debut Richie Spencer.
Directed by Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s Artistic Director Elizabeth Newman (Summer Holiday, The Adventures with the Painted People and Faith Healer, Pitlochry Festival Theatre) and the Theatre’s Associate Director Ben Occhipinti (Wind in the Willows, Pitlochry Festival Theatre), designed by Adrian Rees, with lighting by Kate Bonney, musical direction by Richard Reeday, costume design by Julie Carlin, and movement by Lesley Hutchison.
Tickets for Sunshine on Leith are available from the box office on 01796 484626 or online at pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com
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