‘Sunshine on Leith’
Pitlochry Festival Theatre - 25/06/22
What a joyous experience to sit in the Festival Theatre auditorium again and enjoy a cracking good show. The theatre is back in action, having used the hiatus of the pandemic to revamp its main house, creating a new entrance and spacious foyer, a studio theatre and two new outdoor spaces, the bandstand and an outdoor amphitheatre in the explorer’s garden. This is part of their vision project, with the first phase of work funded by the Dunard Fund and Gannochy Trust and match funded by the Scottish Government. What a superb investment!
And so to ‘Sunshine on Leith’. This is a beloved musical featuring the songs of The Proclaimers, written by Stephen Greenhorn. The signature song was adopted by Hibs football fans as their anthem. Originally produced by Dundee Rep in 2007, made as a feature film in 2013 and staged by various theatres and companies, winning the TMA award for best musical in that year. In a joint production with Edinburgh’s Kings Theatre (as the final show before that theatre undertakes a two-year refurbishment), then entering the summer repertoire at Pitlochry, this is the ultimate Scottish crowd pleaser. It is a musical tale of three different love stories, layered, heartfelt, sentimental and funny, with a canon of non-stop Proclaimer songs which carry the story. It is a simple plot with two squaddies returning from Afghanistan to fall in love, family revelations, sad and happy endings.
It would be churlish to pick out one performance, as the fourteen strong cast excel in every aspect. Every performer plays an instrument live, sings solo, harmonises and is rarely off stage. All are individually strong. This creates a dynamic show full of life and energy, even with a 2 pm matinee. Occasionally the changing melee onstage can pull focus, but with such a talented cast it is difficult to choose who to watch. The finale of course, sung by the company of ‘I’m Gonna Be’ (500 hundred miles) causing the audience to stand up and join in. Quite a feat for the white-haired older matinee patrons. But I did spot a few younger members being introduced to the music.
The set is a large basic movable structure with a gantry at the top and below creating a space for the drums and keyboard. The performers play and take their various instruments with them. They never miss a cue. Direction by Elizabeth Newman and Ben Occhipinti is tight and smart, and sound and light pretty faultless.
The audience spilled out into the afternoon sun, overlooking the beautiful River Tay, having enjoyed a welcome return to the joy of a proper theatre experience in Pitlochry at last. If you can make the journey to the Highlands don’t miss this.
The show remains in repertory until October 1st. Check the theatre website for dates and performances.
