Annie

Annie opens at the New Theatre on 15 December, running through to 2 January. It's the musical version of the story, set in 1930s New York during the Great Depression, and it follows young Annie, who spends her early years in the care of the orphanage run by Miss Hannigan. Things change when she's chosen to spend a fairytale Christmas with billionaire Oliver Warbucks, while Miss Hannigan hatches a plan to spoil her search for her true family. The show won a Tony award for its book and score, and you'll recognise songs like 'It's the Hard Knock Life', 'Easy Street', 'I Don't Need Anything But You' and 'Tomorrow'.

Claire Sweeney takes on the role of Miss Hannigan. She's a well-known face from British television, having played Cassie Plummer in Coronation Street and Lindsay Corkhill in Brookside, and her West End credits include Roxie Hart in Chicago and Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls. Opposite her, Alex Bourne plays Oliver Warbucks; he was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance as Fred Graham in Kiss Me, Kate at the Chichester Festival Theatre and the Old Vic. The rest of the main cast includes Tanisha-Mae Brown as Grace Farrell, Christian Cooper as Rooster and Amber Kennedy as Lily St. Regis.

With the run stretching from mid-December into the first few days of January, it's one of those shows that works as a Christmas outing. Tickets are from £17.50 to £30, and the New Theatre is at 2 George Street, Oxford OX1 2AG.