The autumn season at Stoke's Regent Theatre opened with a classic last night when Annie the musical took to the stage.

The much-loved story has been entertaining audiences for over fifty years and this latest touring production certainly pulls out all the stops with its fabulous choreography, awesome sets, stellar cast, and some of musical theatre's most memorable numbers - It’s The Hard-Kock Life, Easy Street, I Don’t Need Anything but You and Tomorrow.

The family favourite is set in 1930s New York and tells the story of a spirited young girl living a miserable life in Miss Hannigan’s orphanage.  Young Annie seems set to endure hardship and unhappiness alongside her peers until a stroke of luck befalls her and she is chosen to spend a fairytale Christmas with kind billionaire, Mr Warbucks. However, spiteful Miss Hannigan has other plans for Annie and the shenanigans that follow are a joy to watch.

The current production sees the talented Claire Sweeney take on the role of Miss Hannigan. Claire is perfectly cast and plays the part with fabulous panache and an acerbic menacing undertone which is very entertaining. 
Alex Bourne, as Daddy Warbucks. is wonderfully charming and equally determined in his paternal role - exuding kindness and firmness towards orphan Annie as she navigates a world both strange and exciting. June Young is simply exquisite as Annie - the adorable and mesmerising red-haired child trying to transcend her difficult start in life, and grasp any opportunities that comes her way. 
All of the young cast are all truly impressive and further engaging performances come from Christian Cooper and Amber Kennedy as Rooster and Lily. Tanisha Mae Brown is simply outstanding as Grace Farrell and then there's the fabulous canine star of the show who needs to be noted. Sandy has been trained impeccably by Cindy Sharville.

Annie is a musical that has it all - an emotional narrative, joyous twists and turns, tearjerking moments, amazing music and dance, riotous interludes, feel-good escapism and a happy ending, all of which make it pure unbridled entertainment from start to finish. A fabulous showstopper of a musical!

Five stars

Reviewed by Carol Lovatt at The Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent on Tuesday 13 October. Annie the Musical continues to show at the venue until Sunday 18 October. It then returns to the region in 2027, stopping off at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from Tuesday 16 to Sunday 21 February.