KELTY Musical Association have a long tradition of putting on shows which attract large audiences, but this year’s show, Sunshine On Leith, has given them their fastest-selling tickets ever. 

As things stand, Friday night is sold out and Saturday night only has a few single seats left. 

Audiences appear to love the idea of attending a modern Scottish show, which reflects real issues relevant to their lives, plus they obviously love the Proclaimers songs which the show is based on. 

It is definitely the first time that Kelty have ever been able to present a show where the words and lyrics are written by Fifers.

Gary Gibb takes the helm as director, while his wife Lynne Gibb is choreographer and assistant director. 

Between them they have years of experience on and off stage: indeed, Lynne plays Jean Henshaw, the mother in the story, in a very touching performance. 

The production team is completed by new musical director, Peter D Robinson, an actor, singer, musician and composer who has obviously worked hard to ensure the cast sound as Scottish as possible!.

The whole production is modern and bright with minimal scenery and projected backdrops.

Lynne is joined on stage by Peter Tomassi, as Rab.

They play a couple celebrating their silver wedding anniversary who are hit by a shock from the past which threatens to tear their whole family apart. 

Their son Davy is played by Stephen McShane who, along with his pal Ally (Matthew McMullan), has just returned from Afghanistan. 

The boys are both strong actors and display a good mix of comic and serious acting. 

Ally is the boyfriend of Davy’s sister Liz, a young nurse played by Stacey Muirhead, whose real sister Megan Muirhead plays her best pal, Yvonne.

The excellent cast is completed by Katie Fleming, whose amazing voice soars out as Young Margaret, and Fraser McLoughlin as Young Rab. 

The entire principal cast have worked very hard to deliver a great show.

There are hilarious numbers such as Let’s Get Married where Lindsay Black excels as the barman, or ‘Should Have Been Loved, where Liz and the cleaners, featuring Pauline Braisby as Hazel, dance around the Royal Yacht Brittania with cleaning tools in their hands!. 

Kelty is famed for its scantily clad dancers but this year their scantiest costume is a short kilt!. 

Throw The ‘R’ Away is also a very funny number, where the locals are advised by a camp call centre instructor, played by Kevin Keir, to discard their own dialect and replace it with a posh-sounding Scots accent.

The show covers themes such as unemployment, marital problems, betrayal and war, yet still entertains.

The theme song of ‘Sunshine On Leith’, sung by Jean and backed by the chorus, is one of the most moving numbers you will ever see on stage, as is ‘Letter From America’.

For the rousing finale, the entire cast appear in tartan complete with a piper to deliver an amazing version of ‘I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)’.

No performance would be complete without a strong back stage crew and this year is no exception. 

Once again, the unflappable Shoena Goodall is stage manager, while John Urquhart supplies the scenery and costumes are supplied by Utopia and Kerry Black.

Kevin Keir, the Kelty president, is rightly proud of his company as they deliver the West Fife première of this exciting new show.

There are still a few tickets left: contact the company box office on 01383 413089 to order yours. 

‘Sunshine on Leith’ runs from Wednesday May 4 till Saturday, May 7 in the Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline, at 7.15pm, with a 2.15pm matinée on Saturday.

All opening night and matinée tickets are £12, while the rest are £14/£12 for concessions