At the Wales Millennium Centre on Tuesday night, A Sunny Afternoon delivered a hugely entertaining and energetic retelling of the rise, and near collapse, of The Kinks. Rather than simply acting as a jukebox musical, the production explored the tensions behind the fame, focusing heavily on the band’s turbulent relationship with America during the height of the British Invasion, ultimately leading to their infamous ban from touring the US.
The musical follows Ray Davies as he navigates sudden fame, family pressures, creative control and the growing fractures within the band. While The Kinks quickly become one of Britain’s most exciting groups, their attempts to break America are met with conflict, culture clashes and internal chaos. The show particularly focuses on how the pressures of success,alongside fights, exhaustion and rebellion against the polished American entertainment industry, contributed to the band being banned from performing in the United States in 1965. Against this backdrop, the musical explores Ray’s relationship with wife Rasa, his struggles with identity and class, and the increasingly explosive relationship between the band members themselves.
One of the night’s most iconic moments came when the production recreated the real-life fight that took place in Cardiff at the city’s Capitol Theatre. During the show, Dave Davies reportedly taunted drummer Mick Avory by shouting: “Why don’t you get your cock out and play the snare with it? It’ll probably sound better.” Avory retaliated by striking Dave with his drum pedal, knocking him unconscious. Dave was later rushed to Cardiff Royal Infirmary for stitches while Avory fled the venue convinced, he had killed him. Watching that moment recreated in Cardiff itself added an extra layer of excitement and local history to the performance.
Musically, the production was brilliant fun throughout, fully doing justice to The Kinks’ catalogue rather than relying purely on nostalgia. Songs felt lived-in and emotional, particularly during quieter moments between Ray Davies (Danny Horn) and Rasa Didzpetris(Lisa Wright). Their rendition of “This Strange Effect” was especially beautiful, with harmonies that felt intimate and heartfelt amid the chaos surrounding the band.
The costume design cleverly tracked the passing eras, beginning with sharp black-and-white 50s-inspired gowns and suits before shifting into unmistakable nods to The Kinks’ iconic green jackets and military-style red coats. The wardrobe also subtly reflected the class divide running through the story, contrasting polished upper-class aesthetics with the band’s working-class roots.
The production made excellent use of the theatre itself too, with performers frequently moving through the aisles of the Millennium Centre, making the audience feel part of the frenzy. By the finale, the entire crowd was on their feet.
Even the occasionally exaggerated American accents felt oddly fitting, almost caricatures of how scruffy British musicians were expected to transform themselves for US showbusiness. Rather than distracting from the performance, they added to the musical’s humour and commentary on fame itself.
The tensions within the band were also brilliantly captured by the wider cast, particularly through the performances of Dave Davies (Oliver Hoare), Pete Quaife (Harry Curley) and Mick Avory (Zakarie Stokes). Much of the conflict played out not only through dialogue, but through the show’s constant movement and frantic energy on stage, reflecting the instability bubbling underneath the band’s success. Alongside the chaos, the production embraced the spirit of the 1960s with fantastic go-go dancing and stylised choreography that felt like a genuine throwback to the era, adding even more vibrancy to the performances.
Overall, Sunny Afternoon at the Wales Millennium Centre was more than just a celebration of The Kinks’ greatest hits. It was a lively, nostalgic and surprisingly emotional look at the pressures of fame, brotherhood and identity during one of music’s most chaotic decades. Between the fantastic live performances, clever costume design, energetic choreography and the added significance of recreating the infamous Cardiff fight in the city where it actually happened, the production felt both historically rich and hugely entertaining. By the final number, with the entire audience on their feet, it was clear the show had done exactly what it set out to do, transport the crowd straight back into the heart of the swinging sixties.
