Any Dream Will Do star Keith Jack comes home to star in Proclaimers' musical Sunshine On Leith at Edinburgh King's Theatre
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The 34-year-old actor and singer who became a household name on the prime-time BBC search for a star show Any Dream Will Do 15 years ago is one of a 14-strong cast bringing to life a brand new production of the hit musical written around the music of The Proclaimers.
A funny and moving story, Sunshine On Leith tells the story of Davy and Ally (played by Keith), two soldiers from Edinburgh returning home after serving in war-torn countries and questioning what ‘home’ really means.
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Hide AdThe musical find Keith getting a rare chance to used his own accent, he explains, “I'm excited to be back and doing a good Scottish show. I'm going to go back to my old accent from when I was a kid. It's kind of nice not to have to think about the way I'm speaking... I had to play around a little to get back to singing songs in Scottish because I'm so used to singing in American or something... It’s good to finally be playing a Scottish part.”
The hits featured in Sunshine On Leith include I’m On My Way, Letter from America, I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) and of course the titlular anthem, Sunshine on Leith.
Leading the revival with Keith will be Connor Going, whose previous credits include the touring production of The Choir of Man, as Davy. Starring alongside them will be Scottish singer Alyson Orr as Jean, Rhiane Drummond, who has appeared in Dreamgirls and 9-5 on London's West End as Yvonne, Blythe Jandoo as Liz, Meg Chaplin and Keith Macpherson and Rachael McAllister as husband-and-wife Rab and Hazel.
The cast is completed by Jessica Brydges, Richard Colvin, Anna Fordham, James Hudson, Edinburgh actor Kit Orton and, making his professional stage debut, Richie Spencer.
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Hide AdA co-production with Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Sunshine on Leith will be the final show in the King’s Theatre season.
Fiona Gibson, Chief Executive of Capital Theatre, says, “We're beyond excited to be co-producing Sunshine on Leith with Pitlochry Festival Theatre as the King's final show before its redevelopment and welcome our fantastic cast to visit the theatre and take a wee tour around Leith.
“For Capital Theatres, producing this show expands on our ambition to be at the heart Scotland's theatre community, developing Scottish talent, which this cast is brimming with. Sunshine on Leith will also be a fitting swan-song to The King's as we know it, before it re-emerges as a re-invigorated world-class theatre and thriving community hub.”
The production, co-directed by Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s Artistic Director Elizabeth Newman and Associate Director Ben Occhipinti and comes to The King's for a two-week run from June 7-18.
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Hide AdElizabeth Newman, adds, “I’ve wanted to make Stephen Greenhorn’s fantastic Scottish musical for years. It is an uplifting, hopeful story about family, responsibility, and love. And the musical itself is the perfect blend of singing, drama, music, and dancing. After everything that has happened, this wonderful musical offers us the chance to really celebrate life.”
Book now to see Sunshine On Leith at the King’s Theatre here
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