Sunshine cast on Leith

Full casting announced for Proclaimers musical

Steven Miller and Paul-James Corrigan have been announced as the main leads in the Proclaimers musical, Sunshine on Leith, touring to the King’s in May.

The show opens in Leeds’ West Yorkshire Playhouse in April and plays Edinburgh 22 – 26 May 2018 before touring to Aberdeen, Coventry, Dundee, Glasgow and Inverness (see listings below for details).

The duo will play comrades in arms and best friends Davy and Ally in the West Yorkshire Playhouse production which will see original director James Brining teaming up with writer Stephen Greenhorn to “revive and revitalise” the musical.

Steven Miller’s extensive theatre credits include the National Theatre of Scotland’s The James Plays and Frantic Assembly’s Othello. Corrigan, who is best known for his long-standing role as Stevie in River City, was seen in the 2017 touring production of Cuttin a Rug.

The role of Liz, Aly’s girlfriend and Davie’s sister, wil be played by Neshla Caplan who was recently seen in The Arabian Nights at the Lyceum, last Autumn’s The Sunshine Ghost and the award-winning Adam for National Theatre of Scotland.

Liz’s best pal Yvonne – who she introduces to her brother – will be played by Jocasta Almgill who has most recently been seen in the award-winning production of In The Heights at London’s Kings Cross Theatre and has had various leading roles in the West End’s Dream Girls.

Further roles

The roles of Rab and Jean, Davy and Liz’s parents, will be taken by Phil McKee (Vera, Jekyll & Hyde, ITV) and Edinburgh-born Hilary Maclean, who appeared in many Traverse productions in her early career and recently played Lady Macbeth at Manchester Royal Exchange.

The cast is completed by a strong ensemble of Euan Bennet who was young Horace in The Broons and appeared in Citadel Arts’ When The War Came Home, Joel Burman, Tyler Collins (a brilliantly pliable and lanky Hen in The Broons), Richard Colvin, John McLarnon, Lorna McMillan, Matthew Malthouse seen Singin’ in the Rain in 2014, Emma Mullen, Sioned Saunders (seen in Calamity Jane) and Kara Swinney who was in The Glasgow Girls.

entertaining and emotionally charged

Announcing the casting details, director James Brining said: “Creating Sunshine on Leith over ten years ago was a joyful experience. It’s such an entertaining and emotionally charged musical, which explores ideas of home and identity, falling in love and picking up the pieces when it all falls apart.

“Now, back in my hometown of Leeds, those overarching themes of home and where you put down your roots are as important as ever.”

Brining and River City creator, Stephen Greenhorn, created the musical for Dundee Rep in 2007 and it was transformed into the hit feature film starring Jane Horrocks and Peter Mullan in 2013.

The musical sees the return of servicemen Davy and Ally from war overseas to be confronted with civilian life filled with relationships, blind dates and commitments. 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.

Speaking of the revival, Greenhorn said: “It is fantastic to have the chance to revive and revitalise Sunshine On Leith with James Brining at West Yorkshire Playhouse. It has been 10 years since we first staged the musical in Dundee and I can’t wait to bring this musical back to theatre audiences in an exciting new production.”

Listing

Sunshine on Leith
King’s Theatre, 2 Leven Street, Grindlay Street, EH3 9LQ
Tuesday 22 – Saturday 26 May 2018
Evenings: 7.30pm, Matinees Weds, Sat: 2.30pm.
Tickets: http://www.capitaltheatres.com/sunshineleith.

UPDATE: Review here: ★★★★☆ Singing back to happiness.

The DVD and soundtrack of the film adaptation are availalbe to buy on Amazon:
 
ENDS

Tags: Emma Mullen, Euan Bennet, Hilary Maclean, James Brining, Jocasta Almgill, Joel Burman, John McLarnon, Kara Swinney, Lorna McMillan, Lorraine Graham, Matthew Malthouse, Musicals, Neshla Caplan, News, Nikki Patel, Paul James Corrigan, Phil McKee, Production News, Richard Colvin, Sioned Saunders, Stephen Greenhorn, Steven Miller, Sunshine on Leith, Tyler Collins