Using the back catalogue of The Proclaimers, this jukebox musical follows Davy (Lewis Kerr) and Ally (Kerr McKinley) as they navigate life after serving in the army.
Captivate’s production of Sunshine on Leith is bloody brilliant
The opening number, Sky Takes the Soul, starts the show strongly on the battlefield. Back home they find new love, heartbreak and friendship. Davy's mum, Jean (Hazel Beattie) is excited to see her son back from Afghanistan offering to fix up bedding for him, while dad Rab (Sandy Queenan) stoically gives a “hello son” and continues to read his paper.
Ally has a girlfriend Liz (Jess Nolan) and introduces Davy to Yvonne (Naimh Osborne), the staging of which really did feel like a crammed pub in Morningside as they share stories in the song Over and Done With.
Rab finds out he has a daughter from an affair early in his marriage and Jean discovers this too at their anniversary party. The pain seem so real between the pair in Hate My Love.
As the male leads, Kerr and McKinley have a playful brother like friendship in their cheeky banter exchanges. Playing Jean, Hazel Beattie's performance really impressed and her rendition of Should Have Been Loved was the highlight of the night. Queenan gives a lovable performance of Rab adding in some dad humour and playing the protective father. Praise also for Nolan's gorgeous voice that just suits Letter from America and it's worth mentioning Kerr and Osborne for their undeniable chemistry.
Captivate’s production of Sunshine on Leith is bloody brilliant.
