FIVE STARS ★★★★★
It’s only March but you have to see Annie The Musical this year!
Set in New York in 1933 the show begins with the children of the orphanage tossing and turning in their beds with only their teddy bears for comfort. Annie the Musical opens on stage at a dim, dark and dingy orphanage where the children feel lost and hopeless. Annie, played by Zoe Akinyosade leads the pack as a feisty and confident 11-year-old who has been longing and searching for her parents since birth. Watch out for Zoe in the future as I can see big things coming for this aspiring actress! She was able to hit every single note with precision when singing solo and the bond that was present between her and Alex Bourne as Oliver Warbucks is delightful to watch!
In this adaptation by Artistic Director Nikolai Foster, the audience is swept up into the children’s lives which are full of chores, choices and a lot of cheer!
All of the children in the ensemble provided stand-out performances with their singing and dancing abilities as well as their authentic portrayals of the excitable and energetic children in the orphanage. The children are ordered around by the scary and formidable Miss Hannigan, played by Craig Revel Horwood. Craig provides a strong and hilarious representation of the scheming and lying Miss Hannigan whilst providing the audience with thrilling and adept dancing with the use of his long luscious legs!
With Christmas fast approaching, Grace, played by Amelia Adams, proposes that Annie spends Christmas with Oliver Warbucks, a billionaire businessman looking for somebody to love. In the bright lights of the big city Annie and Oliver grow fond of each other and the dynamic between Zoe Akinyosade and Alex Bourne was clear to see, particularly in their singing duet. After changing the other character’s lives and personalities, what is it that Annie wants underneath the Christmas tree? Will all of the children be able to enjoy a Merry Christmas? Will the sun come out for Annie tomorrow?
Aspiring actors and children in the audience were able to see themselves in the arts through the inclusion of a diverse and extremely talented cast. The range of dancing styles, elaborate costumes and impressive scenery made me want to be part of the ensemble!
With many laugh out loud moments this show really packs a punch and draws in an audience of students, families and schools with sold out performances throughout the week.
The show includes striking and glorious performances of the classic songs ‘It’s a hard-knock life’ and ‘Tomorrow.’
They always say not to work with children and animals but this show wouldn’t be the same without them! It was a 10 from me and the rest of the audience!
Annie will now begin an extensive tour around the country in locations including: Newcastle, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Oxford until November 2023 with more dates expected to be announced. Further information is available here.
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We were invited to watch Annie in order to do a review of the performance. We were under no obligation to give a positive review and all opinions are our own.
