A MULTI Olivier Award winning hit musical that tells the story of English rock band The Kinks will embark on a tour of the UK next year.

Sunny Afternoon is a semi-biographical musical that tells the story of Kinks founder and frontman Ray Davies’ early life and founding of the highly influential rock band with brother Dave in a 1960s suburban North London

Kicking off in early August in Manchester, the hit production will tour 15 cities across the UK in 2020, including the Congress Theatre in Eastbourne from September 15-19 and Brighton’s Theatre Royal from October 6-10.

Including hits like Lola, You Really Got Me and Waterloo Sunset, music and lyrics come from Ray Davies himself. Book comes from Joe Penhall, the creator of Netflix series Mindhunter, and direction from the founder of the all-male Propeller Shakespeare company, Edward Hall.

Ray Davies said: “In these times of political uncertainties, it is a relief to know that Sunny Afternoon is on the horizon to lift our spirits.”

The musical made its world premiere in 2014 at the Hampstead Theatre, London, before transferring to the West End’s Harold Pinter Theatre. It ran there for two years before setting out on a tour of the UK and Ireland in 2016/17.

Sunny Afternoon received four Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical and Outstanding Achievement in Music for Ray Davies.

The musical is being produced by Sonia Friedman Productions and Ambassador Theatre Group Productions. The Sonia Friedman group has been responsible for several huge stage productions, recently including The Book of Mormon and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

“I’ve loved this musical from the moment Ray Davies, Joe Penhall, Ed Hall and I started to develop it several years ago and am incredibly excited and proud that we are bringing back our joyous and celebratory Olivier Award-winning Best New Musical,” said producer Sonia Friedman.

“The Kinks helped shape a generation and Ray’s beautifully truthful lyrics and music are as exhilarating and relevant today as the day he wrote them. I’m so happy we will all get a chance to see Sunny Afternoon soon. I’ve missed it in my life.”