Annie
1930s America, and New York is right in the middle of The Great Depression. At Miss Hannigan’s orphanage, Annie and the other orphan girls are forced to live a life of misery and squalor. As Annie holds on to the hope that her parents will come back for her one day, her luck suddenly changes when she is chosen to spend Christmas with renowned billionaire Oliver Warbucks. However, Miss Hannigan and her villainous sibling, Rooster, have other ideas and hatch a plan that will make them lots of money and remove Annie from their lives forever.
This is a fantastically cast production and expertly directed by Nikolai Foster. La Voix as Miss Hannigan simply shines in this role. Her performance is unique, yet still true to the character, it seems a role she was born to play. Her clever reactions and stunning vocals are a joy to watch. Undoubtedly a masterclass in playing the likeable villain. With Christian Cooper as Rooster and Amber Kennedy as Lily, they make up a dastardly trio.
Alex Bourne as Daddy Warbucks and Tanisha-Mae Brown as Grace Farrell make a beautiful partnership in nurturing the orphaned Annie. The affection and delight their characters have for her is wonderfully portrayed.
Unquestionably, the star of the show was Sophia Saravanan in the title role of Annie. From the moment she stepped on to the stage, she had a commanding presence most adult stars would strive for, a definite name to watch for the future. A wonderful natural talent with her acting skills and vocal ability.
Nick Winston’s choreography in the musical numbers has a particular elegance in this production with their polished movements and perfectly timed storytelling. Aligned with Colin Richmond’s beautifully styled pieces of set and costume design and Ben Cracknell’s lighting design, the audience are instantly transported to a time where the direct contrast and divide between the rich and poor is paramount to the story.
Ultimately, this is the story of an orphan who gets their longed for happy ever after, but it’s also a story of friendship and of discovering that money can’t buy you everything.
This show was reviewed on Tuesday 2nd June 2026 at The Alexandraa Theatre, Birmingham where it runs until the 6th June 2026. Tickets available here: Annie Tickets | The Alexandra, Birmingham in Birmingham | ATG Tickets
Full tour details here: Annie Musical UK Tour | Official Site
Review written by Rachel Louise Martin
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Photo credit : Paul Coltas
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