Review of the Annie UK tour at the Everyman Theatre Cheltenham, October 2026.
After contemplating some rather tough topics at my most recent theatre trips, seeing Annie last night offered something completely different.
That’s not to say there’s nothing to think about. Scratch beneath the surface and there are themes of poverty, inequality, power and hope, delivered through a story set against the backdrop of the Great Depression. But equally, it’s a show that can simply be enjoyed for what it is: a heartwarming story, memorable songs, some excellent dancing, and a reminder that sometimes everything does work out in the end.
Annie has a huge amount of nostalgia wrapped up in it for me. I grew up watching the 1982 film version, one of the most-played VHS tapes in our house, and I also remember seeing a stage production some 30-35 years ago that somehow lodged itself firmly in my memory. It’s one of the few musicals I’d happily revisit again and again. In fact, I should probably admit that, as a child, I was fairly convinced I could have made an excellent Annie myself.
Cast Full of Energy
The UK tour, which visited the Everyman Theatre Cheltenham this week, was every bit as enjoyable as I’d hoped. The cast were superb throughout, but the children were particularly impressive. The role of Annie carries so much of the show, and ours did that impeccably. The orphan ensemble were full of energy and personality, making Hard Knock Life an absolute highlight. There can’t be many musical theatre moments more guaranteed to put a smile on my face than a line of children with buckets, brushes and impeccable timing. I hope the cast were having as much fun performing that number as the audience were watching it.
Claire Sweeney is, of course, the star name attached to this part of the tour, and she was excellent as Miss Hannigan. It is a role that demands complete commitment to the character’s drunkenness, greed and gloriously over-the-top scheming, and Sweeney absolutely went for it. Every eye-roll, sneer and comic outburst landed perfectly.
Alongside her, Alex Bourne and Tanisha-Mae Brown were superb as Daddy Warbucks and Grace Farrell. Brown brought warmth and kindness to Grace, while Bourne gave Warbucks authority, vulnerability and heart.
The ensemble dancers also deserve special recognition. The speed of some of those costume changes must be extraordinary. They seemed to be appearing in a different outfit every few minutes, often while maintaining the energy of the choreography.
It’s Not the Movie…
If you only know the film adaptation, it’s worth remembering that the stage musical came first. There are additional songs included to help move the story along, a few differences in how events play out, and no dramatic climb up a bridge at the end. The musical is also set at Christmas, which adds another layer of warmth and nostalgia that somehow makes the whole thing even more comforting.
Of course, there is an element of “a determined child fixes the Great Depression” running through the story, delivered with all the optimism and American political idealism you might expect. But that’s part of its charm. Few shows embrace hope quite so unapologetically as Annie, and judging by the audience reaction, that’s exactly what people want from it.
It’s also great to see productions of this scale visiting Cheltenham. The Everyman seems to be attracting more and more major touring shows, which is fantastic for local audiences and something I hope continues. My one recurring frustration remains the sound mix. At times it felt as though the music was sitting in front of the performers rather than behind them, leaving some vocals feeling slightly muted unless the actors were really projecting. It didn’t spoil the evening, but it was noticeable, particularly during songs such as Easy Street.
Still, if ever there was a musical guaranteed to send an audience home humming the soundtrack and feeling just a little bit more optimistic about life, Annie is it.
What do you think? Comment below...