Sunshine on Leith to make a Christmas comeback on stage this year

It is the hit musical that turned the music of The Proclaimers into the soundtrack for a Scottish stage show.

Sunshine on Leith director Elizabeth Newman. Picture: Colin Hattersley

Now Sunshine on Leith is set to make another comeback - as a Christmas cracker for one of Scotland's leading theatres.

Pitlochry Festival Theatre is making a new version of the show for its forthcoming festive season.

The five-week run, which will be launched in November, has been confirmed following the huge success of a revival of Stephen Greenhorn’s stage musical last year, co-produced by PFT and Capital Theatres, operators of the King’s Theatre in Edinburgh.

Connor Going and Keith Jack played Davy and Ally in the most recent stage production of Sunshine on Leith. Picture: Fraser Band

However its run in the capital, as one of the last major productions in the King’s before a multi-million pound revamp, was brought to a premature end by the number of Covid cases affecting the cast.

The new version will be directed by Elizabeth Newman, PFT’s artistic director, who will be working with Greenhorn, the writer of the original stage production, which premiered at Dundee Rep in 2007, six years before a film version of the musical which he also wrote was released in cinemas.

Sunshine on Leith, who follows the travails of two soldiers when they return home, was in the middle of a run at the King’s when remaining performances had to be pulled due to the number of Covid cases in the cast.

It was one of the last shows staged in the venue before a multi-million pound makeover of the King’s, which began earlier this year after a campaign to fill a £9 million funding gap.

Writer Stephen Greenhorn is the creator of the musical Sunshine on Leith.

Sunshine on Leith was also the first show to be staged in PFT’s main auditorium for than two years when it opened due to the impact of Covid restrictions.

The musical is due to return to Pitlochry from 17 November-23 December, although it is hoped other dates will follow the festive run.

Newman said: “Audiences can expect a really bright, colourful production of Stephen’s musical.

"The piece is so loved by everybody due to the combination of his brilliant story with those amazing songs.

The cast of the most recent production of Sunshine On Leith. Picture: Greg Macvean

"We still had a waiting list of people wanting to see it when its last run ended here. People were coming back to see it again because they’d had such a lovely time.

“We want to give people a different sort of night out in the lead-up to Christmas this year.

"I think people want to go out and have a good time at a show with songs that they know and love.

"I’m hoping it will be a real Christmas treat for people.”

Sunshine on Leith director Elizabeth Newman. Picture: Colin Hattersley

Greenhorn said: "I'm thrilled that Sunshine in Leith will be returning to Pitlochry Festival Theatre.

"Their production was simply joyous and I can't wait to see it again."

Capital Theatres chief executive Fiona Gibson said: “We’re super excited that Sunshine on Leith, which we co-produced last year, is returning to the stage this winter in Pitlochry.

"Sunshine on Leith holds a particular significance for us as it was the final King's Theatre show before closing to start its transformational redevelopment and sits at the heart of our aim to support Scotland’s theatre community in developing new and exciting projects for the benefit of audiences across Scotland.

"This new production, directed by the hugely-talented Elizabeth Newman, will bring absolute joy and musical delight to many this winter.”