Annie

Annie is coming to the Grand Opera House from 12 to 16 January 2027, with Claire Sweeney taking on the role of Miss Hannigan. It's a touring production by Crossroads Live, directed by Nikolai Foster, who is the artistic director of the Curve Theatre in Leicester.

If you're not familiar with the story, it's set in 1930s New York during the Great Depression. It follows the orphan Annie, who lives in the orphanage of the tyrannical Miss Hannigan until she's chosen to spend Christmas with the billionaire Oliver Warbucks. While that's happening, Hannigan is hatching a plan to spoil Annie's search for her true family. The show is built on a Tony award-winning book and score that produced standards like 'It's The Hard-Knock Life', 'Easy Street', 'I Don't Need Anything But You' and 'Tomorrow'.

Claire Sweeney is a familiar face from British television, with roles in Brookside, Holby City and Coronation Street, and West End parts in Chicago and Guys and Dolls. She's joined by Alex Bourne as Oliver Warbucks, Tanisha-Mae Brown as Grace Farrell, Christian Cooper as Rooster, and Amber Kennedy as Lily St. Regis. The role of Annie is shared by Victoria Alsina, Sophia Saravanan and June Young.

It's billed as the world's favourite family musical, so it's one that works as well with children as it does with adults. The run is five days long, from Tuesday 12 to Saturday 16 January, at the Grand Opera House in York.