Preview: Annie at Sunderland Empire

Follow North East Theatre Guide on Twitter at https://twitter.com/NETheatreGuideand on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NETheatreGuide  

Lesley Joseph To Star As ‘Miss Hannigan’ in Annie

Annie

Sunderland Empire

Monday 28 March – Saturday 2 April 2016

Michael Harrison and David Ian are delighted to announce a brand new production of the musical Annie starring Lesley Joseph as ‘Miss Hannigan’. Annie will play Sunderland Empire from Monday 28 March – Saturday 2 April 2016.

Lesley Joseph as Miss Hannigan

with Annie and orphans.

Photo: Matt Crockett

Set in 1930s New York during The Great Depression, brave young Annie is forced to live a life of misery and torment at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage. Determined to find her real parents, her luck changes when she is chosen to spend Christmas at the residence of famous billionaire, Oliver Warbucks. Spiteful Miss Hannigan has other ideas and hatches a plan to spoil Annie’s search…

With its award-winning book and score, this stunning new production includes the unforgettable songs ‘It’s the Hard Knock Life’, ‘Easy Street’, ‘I Don’t Need Anything But You’ and ‘Tomorrow’.

Lesley Joseph as Miss Hannigan

Photo: Matt Crockett

Lesley Joseph is best known for playing ‘Dorien Green’ in the hugely successful sitcom “Birds of a Feather” alongside Pauline Quirke and Linda Robson. They recorded over 100 episodes over a period of nine years. Lesley and her co-stars returned to our screens in “Birds of a Feather in 2013 with a second series airing earlier this year. Lesley’s theatre credits include ‘Miss Hannigan’ in Annie at the West End’s Victoria Palace and also on national tour. Her other touring credits include “Calendar Girls” and “Hot Flush!”. 

Lesley Joseph as Miss Hannigan

with Annie and Sandy.

Photo: Matt Crockett

Annie will be directed by Nikolai Foster. Recently named as the new artistic director at Curve in Leicester; his most recent theatre credits include: “Calamity Jane”, “The Witches of Eastwick” and the 20^th Anniversary production of Jonathan Harvey’s “Beautiful Thing” in the West End.

Annie has set and costume design by Colin Richmond, choreography by Nick Winston, lighting by Ben Cracknell and sound design by Richard Brooker. Annie has Music by Charles Strouse, Lyrics by Martin Charnin and a Book by Thomas Meehan. Annie is produced by Michael Harrison and David Ian.

On The Web:

Website: www.anniethemusicaltour.uk

Tickets:
Tickets can be bought in person at the Box Office on High Street West
Box Office: 0844 871 3022*
Groups 10+: 0844 871 3042
Online: www.ATGtickets.com/Sunderland*
*Booking fee applies

Preview: Annie at Newcastle Theatre Royal

ANNIE PREMIERES AT NEWCASTLE THEATRE ROYAL STARRING CRAIG REVEL HORWOOD

Annie

Newcastle Theatre Royal

Saturday 11^th  - Saturday 18^th July 2015

A brand new production of the world’s favourite musical Annie from Newcastle-born producer Michael Harrison, and starring Craig Revel Horwood as ‘Miss Hannigan’, will premiere at Newcastle Theatre Royal Saturday 11 - 18 July 2015 before embarking on a year-long tour of the UK and Ireland.

Craig Revel Horwood as Miss Hannigan

with Annie and orphans

Photo: Hugo Glendinning

Set in 1930s New York during The Great Depression, brave young Annie is forced to live a life of misery and torment at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage. Determined to find her real parents, her luck changes when she is chosen to spend Christmas at the residence of famous billionaire, Oliver Warbucks. Spiteful Miss Hannigan has other ideas and hatches a plan to spoil Annie’s search…

With its award-winning book and score, this stunning new production includes the unforgettable songs ‘It’s the Hard Knock Life’, ‘Easy Street’, ‘I Don’t Need Anything But You’ and ‘Tomorrow’.

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 the New London Theatre, Miss Saigon at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and Harry in Crazy for You at the Prince Edward Theatre which took him to the US and Germany before re-creating the show for Susan Stroman in South Africa. Other theatre credits in his native Australia include: West Side Story, the Australian and New Zealand tour of The Danny La Rue Show; La Cage Aux Folles; Me and My Girl and the hit comedy play Ladies Night.

Annie will be directed by Nikolai Foster. Recently named as the new artistic director at Curve in Leicester; his most recent theatre credits include: Calamity Jane, The Witches of Eastwick and the 20^thAnniversary production of Jonathan Harvey’s Beautiful Thing in the West End.

Annie is produced by Michael Harrison and David Ian.

Tickets:

Annieappears at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Sat 11 – Sat 18 July 2015 (Evenings: 7.30pm, Matinees: Thursday 2pm and Saturday 2.30pm). Tickets are from £17.50 (save 50p per ticket when you book online) and can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 or select your own seat and book online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk

 

News: Annie and the Boy In The Striped Pyjamas-Coming to Newcastle’s Theatre Royal

Annie and The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas

 Coming to Newcastle’s Theatre Royal

Another two brand new shows go on sale this week at Newcastle Theatre Royal - the world’s favourite family musical Annie(11 – 18 July 2015) and The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (19 - 23 May 2015) - alongside recently announced Sing-a-long-a Frozen (Sun 1 March 2015).

Annie, the world’s favourite family musical, will open a brand new tour at the Theatre Royal and run for 10 performances only between 11 and 18 July 2015, starring Craig Revel Horwood, the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing judge, as the tyrannical Miss Hannigan! 

Set in 1930s New York during The Great Depression, brave young Annie is forced to live a life of misery and torment at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage. Determined to find her real parents, her luck changes when she is chosen to spend Christmas at the residence of famous billionaire, Oliver Warbuck. 

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (19 - 23 May ‘15), based on the best-selling novel by John Boyne and a world premiere, promises to be a deeply moving and thought provoking production.  Set during World War II it is the heart-wrenching tale of an unlikely friendship between two innocent boys.

The story is seen through the innocent eyes of Bruno, the eight-year-old son of the commandant at a concentration camp, whose forbidden friendship with a Jewish boy on the other side of the camp fence has startling and devastating consequences.  Bruno's friendship with Shmuel takes him from innocence to revelation, revealing the poetic irony that through a child’s eye everyone can appear the same.  It is brought by The Children’s Touring Partnership, producers of Swallows and Amazons and Goodnight Mister Tom.

As previously announced, a third new show Sing-a-long-a Frozen (Sun 1 March) will also go on sale at the same time.  The show features a special screening of Disney’s Frozen with lyrics to help the audience sing along with the characters, together with a live host and individual pack of props so that each person can interact with the movie. The show has been selling out in venues across the country and a rush is expected for tickets in Newcastle.

Annie The Musical appears Sat 11 – Sat 18 July, 2015 (7.30pm, Thu 2pm, Sat 2.30pm). Tickets from £16 (a booking fee of 95p-£1.95 will apply to most tickets.)

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas appears Tues 19 – Sat 23 May, 2015 (Eves 7pm, Wed, Thu & Sat 2pm. Tickets from £12, schools: £17.50/£12 Tue-Thu eves & mats. A booking fee of 95p-£1.95 will apply to most tickets, recommended 11+, Education workshops available, call 0191 244 2502 for details).

Sing-a-long-a Frozen appears at Newcastle Theatre Royal on Sun 1 Mar, 2015 (10.30am, 2pm, 5.30pm). Tickets £16, children £11, family of 4 £50, family of 3 £36 (a booking fee of 95p-£1.95 will apply to most tickets).

Tickets can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 or select your own seat and book online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk.