IF you can’t wait for the next series of Strictly Come Dancing to start, then why not head down to the Bristol Hippodrome, where Craig Revel Horwood is starring in a brand new musical production of Annie.
You might not recognise the Strictly judge, however, as Craig will be appearing as Miss Hannigan - the alcoholic caretaker of a New York orphanage who despises children!
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 new production includes the 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, although 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.
This production of ‘Annie’ is directed by Nikolai Foster, who was 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 20th Anniversary production of Jonathan Harvey’s “Beautiful Thing” in the West End.
“Annie” has music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin. It is produced by Michael Harrison and David Ian.
u Annie is at The Bristol Hippodrome On August 31 – September 5. 7.30 pm, matinees on Wednesday and Saturday at 2.30pm. Tickets £15 - £47.50. (Craig Revel Horwood will not be performing on September 1 or 2)