John Dagleish, George Maguire & More to Star in Hampstead Theatre's SUNNY AFTERNOON

Hampstead Theatre brings the talents of an exciting young cast to Sunny Afternoon, the story of the early life of Ray Davies and the rise to stardom of The Kinks. Featuring some of The Kinks' best loved songs, including You Really Got Me, Waterloo Sunset and Lola, and with choreographer Adam Cooper joining the creative team, Sunny Afternoon marks the 50th Anniversary year of the band's debut release.

John Dagleish plays Ray Davies, George Maguire plays Dave Davies, Ned Derrington plays Pete Quaife and Adam Sopp plays Mick Avory - The Kinks. They are joined by Carly Anderson, Philip Bird, Ben Caplin, Lillie Flynn, Emily Goodenough, Helen Hobson, Vince Leigh, Amy Ross, Marvin Springer, Dominic Tighe and Tam Williams.

July 30th, 1966, as Bobby Moore lifts the world-cup trophy, a hundred thousand fans in Wembley are singing SUNNY AFTERNOON in unison; the number one hit which rocked the nation that summer. But how did that happen? And how did The Kinks end up not only invading America but also being banned from playing there at the height of their career?

Ray Davies' story is told with Music and Lyrics by Ray Davies, a new book by Joe Penhall, directed by Edward Hall and with a radical new design by Miriam Buether. Musical Director is Elliot Ware, lighting is by Rick Fisher and sound by Matt McKenzie.

Set against the back-drop of a Britain caught mid-swing between the conservative 50s and riotous 60s, this production explores the euphoric highs and agonising lows of one of Britain's most iconic bands and the irresistible music that influenced generations.

Hampstead Theatre's Artistic Director Edward Hall directs, following the sell-out Raving in November and Chariots of Fire in 2012 (Hampstead and West End). Other credits include No Naughty Bits, Loyalty and Enlightenment (all Hampstead Theatre) and as Artistic Director of award winning Propeller Twelfth Night, The Taming of the Shrew, A Winter's Tale and Henry V.

Ray Davies is an influential and prolific rock musician and was co-founder and lead singer and songwriter for rock band The Kinks and later a solo artist. He has an outstanding catalogue of hits from the earliest 1960s to the present day with estimated record sales in excess of 50 million. He has also acted, directed and produced shows for theatre and television.

Joe Penhall is an award winning playwright and screenwriter. Plays include Some Voices (Royal Court), Blue/Orange (National Theatre and West End), winner of Best New Play at the Evening Standard Awards, Olivier Awards and at the Critics Circle, and Dumb Show, Haunted Child and Birthday (all Royal Court). Screenplays include Enduring Love and The Road.

Miriam Buether returns to Hampstead after creating the outstanding design for Chariots of Fire. Her many theatre credits include: Wild Swans (Young Vic), Decade (Headlong Theatre), Earthquakes in London (Headlong and National Theatre) and Sucker Punch (Royal Court; Evening Standard Award). For dance: Body of Poetry (Komische Oper Berlin), PossiblySix, Tenderhooks (Canadian National Ballet), Cinderella (Goteborg Opera). Opera credits include: Anna Nicole, Trittico. Suor Angelica (ROH); Turandot (ENO); The Death of Klinghoffer (Scottish National Opera).

Adam Cooper is one of the UK's leading dancers and choreographers. Having been a principle in the Royal Ballet and danced the lead in Matthew Bourne's multi-award winning Swan Lake, he has choreographed On Your Toes, (Leicester Haymarket, Royal Festival Hall, Japanese tour); Singin' In The Rain (Sadler's Wells, Leicester Haymarket); Grand Hotel (Donmar); and Carousel, (UK Tour, Savoy Theatre) amongst others. He choreographed and co-directed Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Japanese tour and Sadler's Wells) and Simply Cinderella (Curve, Leicester).

John Dagleish (Ray Davies) was last on stage in Out of Joint's The Mother. Film appearances include The Monuments Men, Snow in Paradise and Age of Heroes. TV includes Lark Rise to Candleford (3 series), Beaver Falls (2 series), Starlings (2 series) and Henry V, The Hollow Crown.

George Maguire's (Dave Davies) stage appearances include 20th Century Boy (Belgrade Coventry, Wolsey Ipswich), Hair (Piccadilly Theatre), Thrill Me: The Leopold and Loeb Story (Charing Cross Theatre), Lift and Ten,Ten,Ten (Soho Theatre). Film includes Spiderhole, Boogeyman 3 and Terror and Utopia.

Adam Sopp's (Mick Avory) stage work includes Symphony (Nabokov Theatre,Waterloo Vaults), The El Train (Hoxton Hall), The Woman In The Moon (Shakespeare's Globe, Glastonbury), Backbeat (West End, USA and Canada). TV includes The Lost Honour, WPC56 and Teenage Kicks. Voice over parts include as Harry Potter, Wild Tales, There Be Dragons and War and Peace.

Ned Derrington (Pete Quaife) is a recent RADA graduate. He has appeared in many RADA productions. On TV he has acted in Siblings, Fresh Meat, Holby City and Midsomer Murders.

Booking Information:
Dates: 14 April - 24 May 2014
Times: Mon - Sat at 7.30pm. Sat Mats at 3pm and Weds Mats at 2.30pm.
Prices: Full Price £32/£29. Previews/Mons/Mats £25/£22. Seniors/concs from £18/15
To Book: Hampstead Theatre, Eton Avenue, London, NW3 3EU
Tel: 020 7722 9301
online: www.hampsteadtheatre.com

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