It's hard to fathom that any musical based on a soundtrack by a band like The Kinks could be anything other than outstanding. This show is just that - and then some.

The four-piece are regarded as one of the most important and influential rock bands of the era. They were ranked 65th on Rolling Stone magazine's "100 Greatest Artists of All Time" list, with many of their contemporaries citing the band as one of the most underrated of all time.

Sunny Afternoon depicts the quartet's rise to stardom. Set against the back-drop of a Britain that's caught between the conservative 50s and riotous 60s, this production explores the euphoric highs and agonising lows of one of Britain’s most iconic bands and the irresistible music that influenced generations. It lays relationships open and doesn't shy away from some of the strains the band went through to become one of the most influential British bands of all time.

Packed with smash hit after smash hit, you could be forgiven for worrying about the show becoming a jukebox musical. Thankfully, by revolving around the bands own story it avoids that temptation. It also manages an incredibly difficult task, by having 4 male leads playing the four members of the band, but not as a parody of the original quartet.

Ryan O'Donnell (Ray Davies) plays both an outstanding musician and a man reaching breaking point under the stress of stardom alongside Mark Newnham's portrayal of Dave Davies; a character who is shown as a man who is in equal parts talented guitarist and logistical nightmare. Both should be commended for their interpretation of two of the most famous brothers in the music industry - one which was both a joy to watch and a respectful portrayal that edged away from 'tribute act' perfectly. The four piece have a real chemistry and a believability that means very little disconnect for even the most hardened Kinks fans in the audience.

However, as with any show like this, it's very much reliant on some of the most beautifully crafted rock songs of the 60s and early 70s. When you hear the guitar riffs of 'You Really Got Me' and 'All Day and All Of The Night' coupled with the bass line of 'Sunny Afternoon' then you know you're in safe hands.

A beautifully constructed show with an immensely talented cast that commands the attention of anyone who's even a slight fan of rock n roll!

Sunny Afternoon plays at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre until Saturday 22nd April.

Mark Newnham, who plays the role of Dave Davies in the show, took the audience by surprise at the end of the performance with an impassioned speech in support of his girlfriend who is running the 2017 London Marathon.

Mark has been diagnosed as a carrier of Huntingtons Disease - an degenerative illness which damages certain nerve cells in the brain and gets progressively worse over time. It can affect movement, cognition, and behaviour and there is currently no cure. It's progress cannot be reversed or slowed down, life expectancy is usually no more than 20 years from diagnosis. There are around 6000 HD sufferers in the UK.

Marks father is currently living with the disease and Nicky is running to raise awareness and to help the Huntingtons Disease Association's research into the illness.

As an actor, Mark has brought huge joy to audiences in shows, including this one, so if you feel you want to donate to the cause you can visit Nicky's fundraising page by clicking here.

We'd like to wish Mark and his family continued good health moving forward, from everyone at Black Country Radio.