Sunny Afternoon (musical)

Sunny Afternoon is a jukebox musical with music and lyrics by Ray Davies and a book by Joe Penhall, based on the early life and career of the British rock band The Kinks and, in particular, its principal songwriter, Ray Davies.

The musical follows the band's formation in Muswell Hill, London, through their rise to fame in the mid-1960s, detailing the tensions within the band, their struggles with managers and record labels, the impact of touring, and the personal challenges faced by the members, especially Ray Davies and his brother Dave Davies. Key moments depicted include their early gigs, the recording of their iconic hits such as "You Really Got Me" and "Waterloo Sunset," and their ban from the United States due to allegedly unprofessional behavior.

The show features many of The Kinks' best-known songs, including "You Really Got Me," "All Day and All of the Night," "Waterloo Sunset," "Dedicated Follower of Fashion," "Lola," and, of course, "Sunny Afternoon." The musical's title is derived from the band's popular song of the same name.

Sunny Afternoon premiered at the Hampstead Theatre in London in April 2014 and transferred to the Harold Pinter Theatre in the West End later that year. It received critical acclaim and won four Laurence Olivier Awards in 2015, including Best New Musical, Outstanding Achievement in Music, Best Actor in a Musical (John Dagleish), and Best Supporting Actor in a Musical (George Maguire).