Angela Thomas rounds up all the latest news in regional and touring theatre in the UK and Ireland.
Tag Archives | Annie
Transmission date for National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals 2026
The BBC has confirmed the recording of the fifth instalment of the popular National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on 28 March at 7.45pm.
La Voix to play Miss Hannigan in Annie on tour
RuPaul Drag Race UK favourite and recent Strictly contestant La Voix will play the monstorus Miss Hannigan when Annie embarks on a new UK and Ireland tour next year.
New UK and Ireland tour announced for hit production of Annie
Michael Harrison and David Ian’s hit production of Annie will embark on a new UK and Ireland tour next year.
‘Thank you for all your wonderful gifts to the world’: John Yap pays tribute to Broadway composer Charles Strouse
John Yap, founder of international record company JAY Records, pays tribute to his friend and collaborator, the award-winning composer Charles Strouse.
Farewell to Broadway great Charles Strouse (1928-2025)
Triple Tony Award-winner Charles Strouse has passed away at the age of 96 at his home in New York. The death of the composer whose most famous work was the much-loved musical Annie was announced by his four children.
Annie – New Wimbledon Theatre and Touring
Annie was reviewed at the New Wimbledon Theatre, London. The tour continues until 25 November 2023. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Annie – Milton Keynes Theatre and Touring
Annie continues at the Milton Keynes Theatre until 12 August 2023 and then tours until 25 November 2023. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Annie – Curve Leicester and Touring
Annie was reviewed at Leicester Curve. The UK tour continues until 25 November 2023. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩
Star foursome to share the role of Miss Hannigan for Annie tour
Elaine C Smith and Jodie Prenger will make their debuts as the monstrous Miss Hannigan during the upcoming UK and Ireland tour of Michael Harrison and David Ian’s hit production of Annie.
Hit show Annie to embark on third UK tour in 2023
Michael Harrison and David Ian’s hit production of Annie will embark on a UK tour next year, opening at Leicester Curve on 25 February 2023. Directed by Nikolai Foster with set and costume design by Colin Richmond, choreography by Nick Winston, lighting by Ben Cracknell and sound design by Richard Brooker, the popular version of […]
Bonnie Langford: Fifty Years On Stage – live-streamed from Crazy Coqs
Bonnie Langford: Fifty Years On Stage – live-streamed from Crazy Coqs, London (repeated at 6.30pm and 8.30pm on 17 December 2020). Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ From the almost unbearably cute six-year-old who won TV talent show Opportunity Knocks to her multiple stage successes and TV soap fame, there hasn’t been much in […]
Not such a hard-knock life: Remembering Martin Charnin
The American writer, lyricist and theatre director MARTIN CHARNIN has died, aged 84. His name may not be one that has the same kudos as, say, Alan Jay Lerner, Oscar Hammerstein II, or indeed Stephen Sondheim, but he was at least as successful as his theatrical peers. He may not have enjoyed the celebrity of […]
Meera Syal joins West End company of Annie as Miss Hannigan
From 27 November 2017 Meera Syal will join the West End company of Annie to play the role of Miss Hannigan for the duration of the run which concludes, as previously announced, on 18 February 2018 at the Piccadilly Theatre. Nikolai Foster’s West End production opened in May this year with Miranda Hart as Miss […]
Craig Revel Horwood joins the West End company of Annie
Last night (18 September) Craig Revel Horwood opened in the West End company of Annie; he will be playing the role of Miss Hannigan for the next 10 weeks. Nikolai Foster’s production is booking at the Piccadilly Theatre to 18 February 2018. Best known on television as a judge on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, Craig Revel […]
Broadway librettist – ‘a giant of the theatre’ – Thomas Meehan dies
Tributes have been paid to triple Tony Award-winning writer Thomas Meehan who has passed away at the age of 88. Widely seen as one of Broadway’s leading librettists, Meehan won his first Tony Award for his work with lyricist/director Martin Charmin and composer Charles Strouse in turning the comic strip Little Orphan Annie into the […]
Craig Revel Horwood joins London company of Annie
From 18 September to 26 November 2017, Craig Revel Horwood will join the West End company of Annie to play the role of Miss Hannigan for 10 weeks. In addition, it is announced today that Nikolai Foster’s production will extend booking at the Piccadilly Theatre to 18 February 2018. Best known on television as a […]
London celebrates West End Live 2017
London theatre is celebrating following the triumphant West End LIVE 2017, which saw hundreds of thousands flock to Trafalgar Square [exclusive images form our official photographer Roy Tan]. Now in its 13th year, the event has become one of Europe’s largest free performing arts festivals. The event is organised by Westminster City Council and the […]
Annie – Piccadilly Theatre
Annie continues at the Piccadilly Theatre, London. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ This revival of Annie couldn’t have come at a better time. After all the bleak days we have faced recently, and the uncertain future ahead of us, Annie’s ability to stay optimistic and brave even in the darkest times […]
West End Daddy Warbucks Alex Bourne on appearing in ‘dream musical’ Annie
ALEX BOURNE is playing Daddy Warbucks in the West End production of Annie which opens at the Piccadilly Theatre this week, with opening night on 5 June. Bourne knows the role of Warbucks well after touring with the show across the UK during 2015/16. His other theatre credits include: Mamma Mia! and The Rocky Horror Show on tour in the UK, Midsummer Songs at the New […]
Annie in the West End – cast joining Miranda Hart revealed
Rehearsals began today (24 April 2017) for the West End production of Annie at the Piccadilly Theatre. Joining the previously announced Miranda Hart who will play Miss Hannigan are Alex Bourne as Daddy Warbucks, Holly Dale Spencer as Grace Farrell, Jonny Fines as Rooster and Djalenga Scott as Lily. The title role of Annie will be shared by Madeleine Haynes, 13 years old from Hadley Wood, Barnet; Lola Moxom, 12 years old […]
Miranda Hart confirmed as Miss Hannigan in West End Annie
Multi award-winning comedy writer, actor and author Miranda Hart, will make her West End Theatre debut as Miss Hannigan in Annie, opening in the West End in May 2017. Previews at the Piccadilly Theatre will begin on 23 May 2017 with opening night on 5 June. The production, directed by Nikolai Foster, will be produced by […]
Annie – Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury and Touring
Annie continues at the Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury until 19 March, then on tour until 11 June 2016. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ However cheesy and sentimental the story of little orphan Annie becomes in this much-loved musical, first on Broadway just under 40 years ago, the message that “the sun will come out […]
Annie – New Wimbledon Theatre and Touring
Annie continues at the New Wimbledon Theatre, London until 14 November, then on tour until 11 June 2016. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ If Craig Revel Horwood was as tough on himself as he is on his hapless Strictly Come Dancing victims, he’d probably come up with a 7 for his showstopping performance […]
Nominations announced for UK Theatre Awards 2015
UK Theatre has announced the nominations for the UK Theatre Awards 2015, the only awards which celebrate outstanding achievement in theatre throughout the United Kingdom. The Awards will be presented on Sunday 18 October at a ceremony at London’s historic Guildhall, a magnificent medieval Grade 1 listed landmark building situated in the City of London. Details of the compere […]
Annie – Congress Theatre, Eastbourne and Touring
Annie continues at the Congress Theatre until 15 August and then tours until 4 June 2016. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ The 1976 musical Annie (Thomas Meehan book, Charles Strouse music and Martin Charnin lyrics) is one of those shows based on a cartoon strip and unlike Li’l Abner, another with the […]
Annie tour – Craig Revel Horwood and Lesley Joseph both play Miss Hannigan
Full casting details have been revealed for the brand new production of the musical Annie starring Craig Revel Horwood and Lesley Joseph as Miss Hannigan. The musical will open on Saturday 11 July 2015 at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle. With its award-winning book (Thomas Meehan) and score (Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin), this new production includes the songs ‘It’s the Hard Knock Life’, ‘Easy Street’, […]
Charles Strouse in cabaret – The Pheasantry
Charles Strouse performed in cabaret, with special guest Bonnie Langford, at The Pheasantry, London. Star rating: 4 stars ★ ★ ★ ★ Composer Charles Strouse is a Broadway legend, not only on account of his great age (he was born in 1928), but also for the sheer number of musical shows he has written since Bye Bye Birdie […]
Craig Revel Horwood to play Miss Hannigan in Annie tour
Strictly judge and choreographer Craig Revel Horwood will star as Miss Hannigan in a brand new production of the musical Annie, opening on Saturday 11 July 2015 at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle before embarking on a year-long tour. Craig Revel Horwood is probably best known as a judge on BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing. His West End theatre credits include: Munkustrap in Cats at […]
Sutton Foster – Cafe Carlyle, New York
Sutton Foster is performing at the Café Carlyle, New York until 28 September. There aren’t many performers these days who merit the old-time appellation ‘a toast of Broadway’, but Sutton Foster is certainly one of them. Foster toiled away in four Broadway shows before her career-making Tony-winning lead performance in Thoroughly Modern Millie in 2002. […]
