[AD – PR invite*]
★★★½
Captivate Theatre are back at the Edinburgh Fringe with their production of The Proclaimers musical: ‘Sunshine on Leith’. Set to the band’s renowned songs, the production follows Ally and Davy and their return to life in Leith, following a time in the military. At its core it is a heartfelt romantic comedy focusing on daily life in Edinburgh, packed full of uplifting songs.
Concert versus musical
The staging is brave, with the theatre company choosing to position the band at the back of the performance space throughout the show, constantly in the audience’s line of view. With a vocalist at the helm, initially it looked like the singer was going to remain with the musicians for the duration of the performance, but part of the way through they became part of the ensemble and the principal performers took over. For a musical, there needs to be visual separation between the band and the actors, with this production feeling like a concert in places and not a consistent piece of musical theatre.
Sound quality and musical numbers
For such a large scale show at Fringe, it was a little disappointing to see issues with the microphones and sound. On various occasions voices weren’t being picked up and it affected the overall quality of the performance. Sound is so important when staging a musical and a little more care to the microphones would allow the production to soar.
That being said, the vocals themselves are strong, none more so than in Hazel Beattie’s rendition of ‘Sunshine on Leith’ as Davy’s mother Jean and the finale slowed down interpretation of ‘I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)’. The songs also slot very naturally into the script, with the catchy Proclaimers tracks feeling secondary to the narrative, which in my opinion is how it should be.
Charismatic ensemble
The ensemble are fantastic, really committing to their roles as the various supporting characters. Their performances are a highlight of the show, adding so much collective power to the musical numbers and group scenes. Showcasing Danielle Logan’s choreography with energy and charisma, the company navigate many different stage entrances and exits, turning this into a musical production that takes over the entire Ballroom performance space at Assembly Rooms.
A musical that radiates the soul of Edinburgh
Whilst the sound quality needs refining, this interpretation of ‘Sunshine on Leith’ is full of joy and a definite crowd pleaser. The cast are fantastic, making you laugh and cry along with them, as they bring to life the emotional script focusing on family and relationships. The show has also found a very appropriate home at the Edinburgh Fringe, offering audiences a chance to see a musical that really reflects the spirit of city life. The show is based at Assembly Rooms – Ballroom until 25th August, with performances starting daily at 17:35. Tickets can be purchased via the festival website.
Thanks for reading my blog today.
Love Kat xxxx
*My ticket for ‘Sunshine on Leith’ was gifted in exchange for an unbiased review.
Comments