Sunshine on Leith 2023 Cast

Winter Words Festival 21-23 Feb 2025

Sunshine on Leith 2023 Cast Announcement

We are excited to announce the cast of our forthcoming new production of Sunshine on Leith, Stephen Greenhorn’s much-loved musical featuring the songs from world-renowned Scottish band, The Proclaimers.

Sunshine on Leith’s exciting cast will feature Finlay Bain (Trainspotting Live, Seabright Productions, Black Watch, National Theatre of Scotland tour, The Straw Chair, Finborough Theatre and the lead in the feature film Meet you in Scotland, Reel One Entertainment) as Ally; Robbie Scott (Peter Pan and Wendy and Group Portrait in a Summer Landscape, Pitlochry Festival Theatre) as Davy, Sinead Kenny (My Fair Lady, London Coliseum, and UK tours of Aladdin, Rock of Ages, 9-5, West Side Story and Annie) as Yvonne; Keith Macpherson (Stan and Ollie, BBC Films and A Streetcar Named Desire, Pitlochry Festival Theatre) as Rab, Scottish singer Alyson Orr (Sunshine on Leith, Pitlochry Festival Theatre and Rikki and Me, Scottish tour) as Jean; Jessica Dives ( A Christmas Carol, Shakespeare North Playhouse) as Eilidh; Fiona Wood (Peter Pan and Wendy, Pitlochry Festival Theatre) as Liz; and Charlotte Grayson (Lord of the Rings, Watermill Theatre and A Christmas Carol, Dundee Rep) as Hazel.

The cast is completed by Trudy Ward (Gypsy and To the Bone, Pitlochry Festival Theatre); Jake Reynolds (currently appearing as Doody in the West End production of Grease) and Royal Conservatoire of Scotland graduates Callum Marshall (Sunshine on Leith, UK tour and A Christmas Carol, Bolton Octagon) and James Dawoud (Aladdin, Beacon Arts Centre).

The production will be directed by Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s Artistic Director Elizabeth Newman (A Streetcar Named Desire, Pitlochry Festival Theatre).

Sunshine on Leith tells the story of returning service members Davy and Ally from war overseas, to be confronted with civilian life, relationships, blind dates, and new responsibilities. As the pair embark on intertwining journeys of love, they begin to question what home really means to them as they rediscover their sense of identity.

Set to the classic songs of The Proclaimers, including “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles), “Letter from America” and of course the emotive “Sunshine on Leith”, this feel-good Scottish musical asks the question, would you walk 500 miles for love?

Sunshine on Leith was originally staged at Dundee Rep in 2007 before being transformed into the 2013 smash hit feature film adaptation starring Jane Horrocks and Peter Mullan.

Originally produced last year in partnership with Capital Theatres, Sunshine on Leith will run at Pitlochry Festival Theatre from 17 November till 23 December 2023.

CREATIVES

Pitlochry Festival Theatre presents

SUNSHINE ON LEITH

A Musical written by Stephen Greenhorn

Featuring the songs of The Proclaimers

New Musical Arrangements by David Shrubsole

Original production at Dundee Rep on 18th April 2007

Performed by arrangement with Music Theatre (Europe) International

On behalf of Josef Weinberger Limited

Directed by Elizabeth Newman

Musical Direction by Richard Reeday

Set Designed by Adrian Rees

Costume Design by Julie Carlin

Lighting Design by Kate Bonney*

Cast: Robbie Scott (Davy), Finlay Bain (Ally), Keith Macpherson (Rab), Alyson Orr (Jean), Fiona Wood (Liz), Sinead Kenny (Yvonne), Jessica Dives (Eilidh), Charlotte Grayson (Hazel), James Dawoud (Barman and ensemble), Trudy Ward (ensemble), Jake Reynolds (ensemble) and Callum Marshall (ensemble).

*Original designs from 2022 Pitlochry Festival Theatre/Capital Theatres co-production

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Cast

Robbie Scott

Robbie Scott

Robbie hails from the North East of Scotland and is a 2021 graduate from Arts Educational Schools London (BA Hons). He also trained at the Dance School of Scotland in Glasgow.

Credits: Will in Group Portrait in a Summer Landscape (Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh/Pitlochry Festival Theatre); Dickon in The Secret Garden, Tulsa in Gypsy, Peter Pan in Peter Pan and Wendy (Pitlochry Festival Theatre); Dick Whittington in Dick Whittington (Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford).
Finlay Bain

Finlay Bain

Finlay trained at Birmingham School of Acting. He wrote, produced and performed in Living a Little with his theatre company Riot House Theatre at the Vault festival, where it won the Origins Award for Outstanding New Work, and then transferred to The King’s Head Theatre, to then to Underbelly at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Credits: The Straw Chair (Finborough Theatre); Trainspotting Live (UK Tour); The Flouers o’ Edinburgh (The Finborough Theatre); Blackwatch (touring production by National Theatre of Scotland).

He recently starred as the lead role in the feature film, Meet You in Scotland (Reel One Entertainment).
Sinead Kenny

Sinead Kenny

Sinead trained at the Arts Educational School London (BA Hons).

Credits: Clara in My Fair Lady (London Coliseum and UK tour); Belle in Beauty and the Beast panto (The Malthouse Theatre); Waitress1 in Rock of Ages (UK and International tour); Mrs Greer in Annie (Ed Mirvish Theatre, Toronto); Ensemble in Disney’s Aladdin (Prince Edward Theatre, West End); Cha Cha in Grease (Leicester Curve and Dubai World Trade Centre); Cecile in Annie (UK and International Tour); Tiger Lily/Mrs Darling in Peter Pan panto (Norwich Theatre Royal); Consuela in West Side Story (UK tour); 9 to 5 The Musical (UK tour); workshop of The Witches (National Theatre); dancer on BBC’s Apprentice after-show; Royal Variety Show (London Palladium); The Concrete Jungle World Premiere (Arts Educational); Work Hour in Coppélia (English Youth Ballet); Not Forgotten Society Concert (Buckingham Palace) and Christmas in New York ( Lyric Theatre, London).
Fiona Wood

Fiona Wood

Fiona trained at the Glasgow Academy of Musical Theatre Arts.

Credits: Metamorphosis: Unplugged (Vanishing Point); The Crucible, Blonde Bombshells, Heritage, Chicago, Quality Street, Before the Party and The Last Witch (Pitlochry Festival Theatre); Glory on Earth and The Winter’s Tale (Royal Lyceum Theatre); The James Plays (National Theatre of Scotland); Gabriel’s Gig (Drake Music); The Steamie (Neil Laidlaw); Cannibal Women of Mars, Ya Beauty and the Beast and Flo White (Tron Theatre).

TV/Film credits: Only an Excuse (BBC Scotland); Sketchland (BBC); Hospital 24/7 (Sky); Scot Squad (BBC Comedy Unit); Rab C Nesbitt (Comedy Unit); Short Films Room 9 and Home (Royal Conservatoire of Scotland).
Keith Macpherson

Keith Macpherson

Keith was born in Edinburgh and trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and L’École Jacques Lecoq.

Credits: Sunshine on Leith, Noises Off, and Under Another Sky (Pitlochry Festival Theatre); Il Trittico (Scottish Opera); The Yellow Door (Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh/Edinburgh International Book Festival); Selkie (A Play, a Pie and a Pint); Rapunzel, Bauble Trouble, Museum of Dreams, Waiting for Godot, Desire Under the Elms, Peter Pan, The Wizard of Oz (Citizens Theatre); Yellow Moon, The Monster in the Hall (Citizens Theatre/
National Theatre of Scotland); Light Boxes (Grid Iron); Decky Does a Bronco (Grid Iron/Almeida Theatre); James and the Giant Peach (Dundee Rep); The Yes/No Plays (Traverse); Horizontal Collaboration (David Leddy/Fire Exit); Henry V (Bard in the Botanics); Rogue Herries (Theatre by the Lake); Mother Courage, Clutter Keeps Company (Birds of Paradise); A Christmas Carol (Cumbernauld Theatre); Hamlet (MYT Theatre), and many more productions.

Film/TV/Radio/Audio credits: Stan and Ollie; Taggart; Silent Witness; Donald and Benoit (Pitlochry Festival Theatre); The Chronycle (BBC Radio Scotland).
Alyson Orr

Alyson Orr

Alyson is a singer, songwriter, actor and producer based in Scotland. She is one-third of the jazz vocal harmony group The Swingcats which tours internationally and performs with the likes of the BBC Big Band and the Glenn Miller Orchestra, also appearing on Friday Night is Music Night and Big Band Special on BBC Radio 2. Alyson composed the music for the musical comedy, The Wedding Planners and is currently writing a new musical called The Coven. She recently released an album of her instrumental compositions entitled Coming Home.

Credits: Sunshine on Leith, Noises Off (Pitlochry Festival Theatre); Bend It Like Bertie (Westgate Theatre, Las Vegas), as well as appearing in numerous productions across many theatre companies including Scottish Opera, Borderline, Byre Theatre, Theatre Workshop, Wildcat, Jersey Opera House and Glasgow Pavilion Theatre.

Film/TV credits: Rikki and Me; River City; High Road; and BAFTA award-winning film, One Life Stand.
Jessica Dives

Jessica Dives

Jessica trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and has a BA from Royal Holloway, University of London.
As a sound designer, she has worked with Sony, Raymond Gubbay Ltd and The National Trust. Jessica also works as a musical director, arranger, composer and singer-songwriter. She is currently working on her debut self-penned EP.
Credits: A Christmas Carol (Shakespeare North Playhouse); Romeo and Juliet (Stafford Shakespeare Festival); Robin Hood Rock n Roll Panto (Liverpool Everyman); Pride and Prejudice, The Merry Wives of Windsor, A Comedy of Errors (Storyhouse/Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre); A Christmas Carol (Storyhouse); The Ballad of Maria Marten (Eastern Angles/SJT); Guess How Much I Love You (Selladoor Theatre); Henry V, Twelfth Night
and The Borrowers (Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre) The Lost Ones (Bush Theatre/Theatre Royal Stratford East); Hamlet and Macbeth (Young Shakespeare Company).
Jake Reynolds

Jake Reynolds

Jake trained at the University of Chichester BA Musical Theatre, and Rose Bruford College MA Actor Musicianship.

Credits: Prince Vance in Sleeping Beauty (Loughborough Town Hall); Doddy in Grease (Dominion Theatre, West End); Trixie the Elf in Santa’s Magical Gift (Horsham Capitol Theatre); Cellist in The Wasp and The Raven (Workshop).
Trudy Ward

Trudy Ward

Trudy was born in Nottinghamshire and is a 2022 graduate of the BA Actor-Musician course at the Guildford School of Acting.

Credits: Electra/Agnes in Gypsy, Martha in The Secret Garden, and Vee in To The Bone (Pitlochry Festival Theatre); Witches of Eastwick in Concert (Sondheim Theatre); West End Does Christmas (Cadogan Hall); As You Like It (Jupiter Theatre); 9 to 5 (Mayhem Theatre Company).
Callum Marshall

Callum Marshall

Callum was born and raised in Yorkshire. His journey in the performing arts began with his training at the esteemed Royal Conservatoire of Scotland where he graduated in 2018. Sunshine on Leith is his debut performance at Pitlochry Festival Theatre.

Credits: Beast in The Choir of Man (NCL).
Charlotte Grayson

Charlotte Grayson

Charlotte is an actor and musician. She trained at Mountview.

Theatre credits: Sunshine on Leith (Pitlochry Festival Theatre); Lord of the Rings the Musical and Whistle Down the Wind (The Watermill Theatre); A Christmas Carol (Dundee Rep); Songs for a New World (The London Palladium); A Christmas Adventure (Oxford Playhouse) and Song of the Far Isles (Oxford Playhouse).
James Dawoud

James Dawoud

James grew up in the small, scenic town of Strathaven. He studied Musical Theatre at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and graduated with an MA in 2019.

Credits: Moorcroft – development (Tron Glasgow); Bertram in All’s Well That Ends Well (The Show Must Go Online); Cinderella (Perth Theatre); Vocalist/Resident Musician (TUI Sensatori); Lena (The Beacon Arts Centre); Aladdin in Aladdin (The Beacon Arts Centre).

James will soon be making his screen debut on a popular Cbeebies TV series. He also took on his directorial debut during The Show Face Festival directing The Wreck of Them by Bradley Scott.