Oct 07 2022: Bringing sunshine to the Lyceum with a Proclaimers hit
A sparkling lineup of dancing elves, the magic of a Santa sleigh that really does take flight…how do you provide a follow up to a hit like Elf: The Musical?
For STOS Theatre Company, back at Sheffield’s Lyceum from November 15 to 19, it seems like a distinct case of ‘ and now for something completely different.’
The company’s new show, Sunshine on Leith, is a story of young friends who return from war to find their way back into civvy street in their home city of Edinburgh after serving on the front line in a war zone.
Their journey through life and love is set to the timeless songs of 1980s pop favourites The Proclaimers, including I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles), Letter from America and the title song, Sunshine on Leith.
And as director Mark Harris is keen to point out, it’s about as far removed from the glossy theatricality of Festive family favourite Elf - a massive hit for STOS in 2021 - as you could get.
It’s even very much a different sort of show to Mark’s other STOS productions, classic Broadway and West End hits like My Fair Lady and Gypsy.
“I’ve been saying to the cast from day one of rehearsal that this is a play with music,” he explains.
“It’s a story about family, a story about relationships, friendships, family dynamics, a fantastic story about love and life, some of which is told through the music of The Proclaimers.
“The Proclaimers’ back catalogue must be huge and it’s certainly eclectic so you have your big hitters like Letter from America and, of course, I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) and then there are some songs that people might not be so familiar with but which are all just as good.”
Sunshine of Leith should, in fact, have been the STOS Lyceum show of 2020 but that production was hit by the pandemic theatre lockdown and Elf was already booked in for 2021.
But the STOS team were determined that they would get Sunshine on Leith, a premiere production for the city, on stage this year.
“I think artistically it’s a good choice for STOS and fits in very well with our ethos of bringing something different to Sheffield audiences,” Mark says.
“Sometimes that means you have to take a bit of a risk perhaps but after the success of Elf and Shrek before that, we felt this was absolutely the right time for a complete change of pace.”
The show could and has been described as a jukebox musical, one of those productions that, like everything from Mamma Mia to Jersey Boys, takes a string of established chart hits and weaves them into a story - though it’s a description Mark is not keen on.
“I don’t know if it is a jukebox musical in the way that people might expect,” he says.
“Yes, it does use the Proclaimers’ back catalogue but it doesn’t have that feel of a story hanging off the hits - it’s much more interesting than your bog standard juke box show.”
The tone of the piece is also very different to any other STOS shows of recent years.
“We only have 28 in the cast this time , while I think in Elf there were something like 45 to 50, including the children,” Mark says.
“It makes a more intimate piece - I don’t want the audience to be distracted by massive sets - and one that gives up the chance to showcase some newer faces and talents in the company.”
Mark is also relieved to be directing a show free of the complications caused by Covid restrictions.
“Last year we had a double cast for all our principal characters which was difficult to manage and added to the logistical difficulties, along with things like rehearsing in safe bubbles,” he recalls.
“It’s good to get back to what I call a normal season, back to our usual audition process, learning the music, having our summer break and then getting to work on the show.
“And for me this is a show that touches me quite a lot because my mother was Scottish and it feels like I am doing it for her, I want it to honour her.
“What we’re aiming for is authentic Scottish realness rather than a Brigadoon version of Scotland and when we get that right I will be very happy.
“It’s a feel good show and I want people to come in and just be immersed in the story, the fun and the heartache and be taken on a journey in the company of some great Proclaimers songs.”
STOS Theatre Company produces the world’s top musicals at Sheffield’s Lyceum Theatre, made for and by the people of South Yorkshire.
STOS draws on the very best local talent, employs hugely experienced professional creative teams, and invests up to £100,000 on each show to ensure the production values are without equal, performing exclusively at the Lyceum.
Tickets for Sunshine on Leith are available via the Sheffield Theatres website at sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
For more information about STOS visit stos.org.uk
