Photo Special: Spotlight's latest musical brings sunshine to Oban

The show ran from Wednesday March 5 to Saturday March 8, and on both Friday and Saturday the 400 seats were completely sold out.

 

Sunshine on Leith is a feel-good musical following two best friends Ally and Davy, who return home to Leith after serving in Afghanistan and begin to navigate life, love, and family again. 

 

All of the leading lads and lassies dazzled audiences with their performances, with standout vocals from Ellie Cooper playing Davy’s love interest Yvonne, and Kathleen Bate as Rab’s betrayed wife Jean.

 

A powerful performance was also given by Spotlight’s new Musical Director Donald Feist, as Davy, whose experience conducting choirs across Scotland and performing in operas shone through in his powerful vocals. 

 

The supporting company were having the time of their lives up on stage, with performers, young and old, all getting their moment to step into the spotlight and show off their skills.

 

From Gillian MacKechnie’s performance as a drunk bride on her hen do, to Stevo Finlayson’s running shoplifting gag, the supporting cast put a smile on audiences faces. 

 

It was impossible not to hum along to much-loved tunes like "I’m On My Way", "Over & Done With" and "Let’s Get Married".

 

By the time "500 Miles" struck up in the finale, the whole auditorium chimed in with singing, stomping, and clapping. 

 

The bright set design and clever use of props transported audiences into the character’s lives and a particular highlight was the ensemble’s hilarious use of vacuums, cleaning detergent and mops as microphones during the upbeat number "Should Have Been Loved".

 

Ahead of curtain up, the energetic Spotlight group were spurred on by a good luck video message sent by The Proclaimers themselves.

 

Gillian MacKechnie, one of the cast and marketing assistant for Spotlight, had been trying to arrange to get in touch with the stars through someone she knew and was delighted to receive a message from the duo.

 

She said: "It really made our day when it dropped and we immediately shared it on the cast group chat -  everyone was so thrilled to get this from the boys."

 

MP Brendan O’Hara wished the cast and crew good luck before taking his seat in the audience for Friday’s performance.

 

He said: "I was knocked out by the talent, the production values, and the obvious hard work and professionalism that went into creating such a superb show.

 

"The cast, particularly those in the main roles, did an incredible job in bringing this story to life, and you could see that the audience were fully invested in it from the first curtain all right through to the rousing finale.

 

"It is wonderful for Oban to have such an active and talented amateur dramatic society and contributing to the vibrant cultural scene in the town, and I have my name on this list already for their next performance."

 

Spotlight will have exciting news in the next few weeks about future productions this year. You can keep up with all the action on their Facebook page.