Sunshine on Leith

Aug 9 2024 | By Cyril Langston More

★★★★☆ Energetic

Assembly Rooms (Venue 20): Thurs 1 – Sun 25 Aug 2024
Review by Cyril Langston

Toe-tapping and filled with hometown love, Captivate Theatre’s production of Sunshine on Leith at the Assembly Rooms Ballroom is fun and energetic.

Interwoven with songs by The Proclaimers, Stephen Greenhorn’s book follows two recently-discharged servicemen and best pals, Ally and Davy, as they return home to Leith from their final tour of Afghanistan and navigate the meaning of home.

A scene from Captivate’s Sunshine on Leith. Pic: Captivate.

Ally, played by Martin Mitchell, is happy to be reunited with his girlfriend Liz, Davy’s sister and a nurse at a local hospital, while Davy, played by Scott Binnie, explores the beginnings of a relationship with Yvonne, Liz’s coworker, after being set up by his sister.

In the meantime, Davy’s parents Rab and Jean are planning their anniversary celebration when Rab is contacted by Eilidh – who has a startling secret to reveal.

cheeky but passionate

Mitchell’s cheeky but passionate Ally is fun to watch, while Binnie’s earnestness and emotion make for a loveable Davy. Both leading men anchor the stage and balance each other nicely, and are believable as friends to each other and partners to Liz and Yvonne.

Carly Duncan is likeable and relatable as Liz navigating the nuances of being young, ambitious, and unsure which calls of the heart to follow. She shows off the clarity and strength of her voice and balances well with Mitchell’s Ally. Kirsty Morrison’s Yvonne is more subdued, and her bright vocal tone shines throughout.

Hazel Beattie and Sandy Queenan. Pic Captivate

Sandy Queenan as Rab is loveable as a dad and husband. He’s witty and frank while managing to be vulnerable. Hazel Beattie shines as Jean, whose journey through happiness, anger, and fear allows Beattie to showcase the breadth of her skills. She’s convincing as a wife, a mum, and a beloved coworker in equal measure. Her heart-wrenching rendition of the title number is show-stealing, with understandable sniffles from the audience punctuating the next few scenes.

familiar tableau

The ensemble sets the scene in the place-setting second number I’m On My Way, featuring a silly and familiar tableau of Edinburgh filled with hen-do partiers sporting pink cowboy hats, construction workers reading the paper, and tourists sporting I Heart Scotland shirts filling the streets.

The ensemble’s heart is present throughout, providing moments of levity in what is an otherwise quite heavy plot. Emma Clarkson as Moira stands out for her comedic timing, with Brett Herriot as Call Center Manager, Iain McFadden as the Barman, and Sophie Gee as Hazel showcasing lovely featured vocals and comedic moments.

A scene from Captivate’s Sunshine on Leith. Pic: Captivate.

The small but mighty band on stage led by musical director Tommie Travers keeps the energy up. The sound, run by Mark Simpson, is well-balanced despite the band’s position on the stage. Vocalist Sophie Gee’s pure tone and well-controlled power stand out. Sally Lyall’s direction utilises the space well, with movement around the stage and the venue keeping the show’s pace engaging.

With familiar upbeat songs, characterful acting, and a string of local references to giggle with, Captivate Theatre’s Sunshine on Leith is a fun production suited for locals and visitors alike. A crowd-pleaser, this show is appropriate for its 5.35pm start time, a nice late-afternoon pick-me-up.

Running time: One hour and 30 minutes (no interval).
Assembly Rooms Ballroom, 54 George Street, EH2 2LR (Venue 20)
Thursday 1 Aug – Sunday 25 Aug 2024
Daily: 7:35
Tickets and details: Book here.

Captivate Theatre links

Website: http://www.captivatetheatre.com/
Instagram: @captivatetheatre
Facebook: @captivatetheatre
X: @Captivate_LTD