Musical theatre fans across Surrey are currently experiencing an exceptional season of entertainment, with two major productions captivating local audiences.
Kinks Musical Storms Woking
'Sunny Afternoon - the Kinks Musical' has arrived at Woking's New Victoria Theatre with hurricane force, tracing the dramatic rise of one of Britain's most legendary bands. This production offers far more than a typical jukebox musical, delivering a compelling narrative that approaches fly-on-the-wall documentary intensity.
The show explores the complex creative relationship between brothers Ray and Dave Davies, which veered from supportive to passive-aggressive and often descended into viciously destructive territory. As one character observes, "Ray and Dave, they boil at different temperatures!" - a tension that becomes vividly apparent throughout the performance.
Beyond Typical Musical Theatre
This is no ordinary musical experience. The production features legendary Kinks music that slips effortlessly into dialogue, creating a seamless and gripping narrative flow. The show's innovative approach to storytelling contributed to its 2014 Olivier Award for 'Best New Musical'.
Audiences are treated to live performances of chart-topping classics including 'Waterloo Sunset', the haunting 'Dead End Street', 'Days', 'You Really Got Me' and the titular 'Sunny Afternoon'. The talented cast of actor-musicians is led by Danny Horn as Ray Davies and Oliver Hoare as 'Dave the Rave', supported by a company of 22 performers.
The production doesn't shy away from the band's wilder moments, with bi-sexual Dave Davies cross-dressing and at one point swinging decorously from a chandelier while wearing a dress. The frank storytelling includes memorable exchanges like "Dave, you have a genius for not giving a F***!" and references to extravagant behaviour such as "Brian drove his Bentley into a swimming pool. So what have you done lately?"
Buddy Holly Story Charms Guildford
Meanwhile, just last week, 'Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story' brought its particular magic to the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford. The production filled the venue with audiences who knew every song before the band played a single chord, proving that rock 'n' roll rhythm ignores birthdays and maintains an enduring shelf life.
The show, led by actor-musician AJ Jenks as Buddy Holly himself, offered a theatrical scrapbook rather than a deep dramatic narrative. This approach isn't entirely surprising given that Holly died tragically in 1959 at just 22 years old - a life scarcely long enough to develop the contours of traditional drama.
While the production chose to exclude some sharper edges and softer truths about Holly's life, including tensions with his producer Norman Petty over his sudden engagement, it compensated with an irresistible surge of legendary songs. The audience response was overwhelmingly positive, with cheers and sustained standing applause demonstrating the production's success.
Both productions have attracted substantial audiences, proving that British musical theatre continues to thrive with shows that blend legendary music with compelling storytelling.
