Annie, UK Tour (2026) Review
Written by Harriet for Theatre and Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review. All views are our own
Set amongst the Great Depression, the American comic strip Little Orphan Annie, was adapted into the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Annie back in 1977. So while Harold Gray, the creator who inspired the hit musical, may have birthed the catchphrases “Leapin’ lizards!” back in 1924, it was Sophia Saravanan who brought them back to life through her poised diction at the Alexandra Theatre’s opening night.
Directed by Nikolai Foster, the young actor, who shares the role with Victoria Alsina and June Young, brought utter precision throughout choreographed numbers as well as a sense of uniqueness and determination to make the role her own by utilising inflections during iconic solos like “Maybe”. The ensemble of orphans join in for the final chorus whilst serenading their toys before they begin to coddle them back to sleep, reflective of their deep sense of longing to break away from the isolation that has been haunting their nights rest within the dingy orphanage.
The orphans’ slumber is cut short, as they’re awoken at 4am by their martyr, Miss Hannigan, who commands them to get to work. The orphans are ensured to obey her commands but not without erupting into song and dance first. The famous “It’s a Hard Knock Life” was choreographed to perfection by Nick Winston and saw a huddle of rambunctious orphans bounding with ferocity between bed posts and laundry baskets before bursting into synchronicity across centre stage.
This production of Annie has yet again hosted an opportunity for Strictly Come Dancing alumni to shine, this time featuring former Strictly contestant La Voix starring as the antagonistic Miss Hannigan. Taking the role over from Strictly Judge Craig Revel Horwood, who toured across the UK in 2023, is La Voix who gifted audiences with a magnificent portrayal of the tyrannical Miss Hannigan. Throughout the first act, favourites from the soundtrack such as “Little Girls” and “Easy Street” particularly gave chance for Season 6 Ru Paul Finalist, La Voix to dazzle the stage with her charismatic red locks.
The first act also featured the solo “Tomorrow”, which showcased the opportunity for audiences to ooze over the loveable Sandy, portrayed by Dizzy the Cockerpoo. Their shiny woollen coat and wagging tail immediately captivated audiences and stole the hearts right out of many of their chests.
Set in 1930s NYC, soon after the Wall Street stock market crash in October 1929, Annie is the tale of a quick-witted, red-headed orphan who amongst her determined hunt for her birth parents, accompanies a lonesome billionaire over Christmas and subsequently swaps out her cotton blankets for satin sheets. The warm gold ceiling lamps hung up within his fifth avenue mansion created a stark contrast to the bleakness that was portrayed throughout Annie’s previous residence, which cohesively utilised green throughout, from the colour of the bed frames to the hanging lamps to even the hues used to light the stage. The stage itself is framed by an amalgamation of jigsaw pieces and as billionaire Warbucks searches for the final piece to fix his incomplete puzzle, the red-head proves contagiously optimistic enough to soften up just about everyone she encounters.
As we continue to follow Annie, now supported in her quest to find her parents by Daddy Warbucks, portrayed by Alex Bourne, everyone from staff to radio broadcasters to politicians, including President Roosevelt becomes besotted. An endeavour which is enough to rile up Miss Hannigan so much, she becomes an accomplice to Rooster, portrayed by Christian Cooper, and his girlfriend Lily, portrayed by Amber Kennedy, to sabotage Annie.
Saravanan’s portrayal of the energetic, joyous Annie was infectious, whilst La Voix brought out both the chemistry and the loveable side from Miss Hannigan’s usually calloused, drunkenly portrayed demeanour. These elements of emotional depth provided an explanation as to why she selfishly hatched a plan to sabotage Annie in the first place. Whilst a redemption arch for Warbucks allows the billionaire to switch from finding his joy in the bankruptcy of J.P. Morgan to finding contentment through slightly more ethical, philanthropic endeavours like throwing a Christmas party where Annie’s friends from the orphanage could partake in a lavish gift exchange of gold presents.
Annie is at the Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham until Saturday 6th June 2026. The UK Tour continues until 2027.
★★★★★
