Annie lights up the Regent Theatre with a feel good night of musical theatre

There are some musicals where you know exactly what is coming, you take your seat, the orchestra strikes up, those familiar songs begin and you are thrilled to be along for the ride. Annie is one of them!

The much loved musical arrived at the Regent Theatre in Stoke on Tuesday night, bringing Depression era New York, a houseful of naughty orphans and one of musical theatre’s most famous redheads to the stage.

And for a show whose story begins in a gloomy orphanage, there is an enormous amount of joy packed into the evening.

Most people will have an idea of the story of Annie before they take their seats. Tomorrow is one of those songs that seems to have existed forever, while It’s the Hard Knock Life needs little introduction. But hearing those songs performed live, surrounded by a packed theatre and with a full company throwing themselves into the show, gives them a fresh burst of life.

The story follows the always optimistic Annie, who lives under the less than tender care of Miss Hannigan at a New York orphanage.

Still hoping to find the parents who left her there as a baby, Annie’s life takes an extraordinary turn when she is invited to spend Christmas at the home of billionaire Oliver Warbucks.

From there we get scheming, mistaken identities, a trip to the White House, a scene stealing dog and, of course – a feel good finale!

At the centre of everything is Annie herself, and June Young carries a huge amount of the show on her shoulders.

Her voice was strong, confident and she perfectly fit into the charcter that is so well loved and iconic. Young slipped into the part like it was made for her and made it her own.

The youthful cast around her are tremendous fun too, their voices and performances were fantastic! It’s the Hard Knock Life is one of the evening’s early highlights, bursting with personality and giving the orphanage scenes exactly the chaotic energy they need.

Then there is Claire Sweeney as Miss Hannigan.

Sweeney clearly knows there is no point playing Hannigan quietly. She sweeps around the orphanage with a drink in hand, permanently annoyed by the children in her care and squeezing every available laugh out of the role.

She is gloriously awful, which is exactly what you want. Her mannerism and humour when she spoke were fantastic, and Sweeney just seemed to revel in the role.

Her scenes with Rooster and Lily bring another shot of comic energy to the production, particularly when the trio launch into Easy Street. Christian Cooper plays Rooster, with Amber Kennedy as Lily, and together with Sweeney they make a deliciously unpleasant little gang.

Alex Bourne provides a good contrast as Oliver Warbucks. Initially very business like, then the billionaire softens as Annie works her way into his life. The relationship between Warbucks and Annie provides some of the shows sweeter moments, without slowing down the production.

Tanisha-Mae Brown gives a lovely perfomance in the role of Warbucks secretary Grace. She has a beautiful voice and plays the part of a loving and kind role model for Annie.

And, of course, we need to talk about Sandy. The moment Dizzy trotted onto the stage, the audience where audibly delighted by their appearance!

There is something wonderfully reassuring about Annie as a musical. It is bright, big hearted and completely unashamed of what it is.

The production looks suitably large on the Regent stage, moving between the orphanage, the streets of New York and Warbucks’ mansion while keeping the story moving quickly.

Musically, there is little chance of reaching the interval without at least one tune firmly lodged in your head. Maybe, Tomorrow, Easy Street, You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile and It’s the Hard Knock Life all arrive during the evening, and it is easy to understand why this musical time piece has survived for nearly 50 years.

Annie is not a musical trying to reinvent itself for 2026, and it does not need to. It knows exactly what people have come to see and delivers it with colour, humour, huge songs and an enormous amount of warmth.

You might arrive already knowing that the sun will come out tomorrow. The trick is making you believe it all over again.

Annie runs at the Regent Theatre, Stoke on Trent, until Sunday 18 October.