The smash-hit musical Annie is coming to Edinburgh Playhouse tomorrow and will stay between March 21 and 25. Spectators can expect to see Paul O’Grady starring as Miss Hannigan, Alex Bourne as Oliver Warbucks, Paul French as Rooster, Amelia Adams as Grace Farrell and Billie-Kay as Lily St. Regis. What is more, the lead role of Annie is shared by Zoe Akinyosade, Harlie Barthram and Poppy Cunningham who are expected to bring us a memorable show.
BAFTA Award-winning television, radio and theatre star Paul O’Grady returns to Annie the musical, who first performed as Miss Hannigan at the Victoria Palace Theatre in 1998. The actor has had a colourful career, such as playing the Child Catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium and many pantomimes including Cinderella and Goldilocks And The Three Bears.
When it comes to TV, Paul is most known as the host of ITV’s Paul O’Grady: For the Love of Dogs, Paul O’Grady’s Great British Escape, The Paul O’Grady Show, Channel 4’s Blind Date and BBC One’s Blankety Blank. He is also an accomplished writer, with both autobiographical and fictional books under his belt and has recently completed a 14 years as a radio presenter on BBC Radio 2.
Annie is set in 1930s New York during The Great Depression that was the economic crisis that originated in the US and spread worldwide, resulting in massive job shortages. The plot follows young Annie who is forced to live a life of despair and hardship at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage.
The protagonist is determined to find her real parents, and her luck changes when Annie is chosen to spend Christmas at a well-known billionaire’s house, Oliver Warbucks. However, Miss Hannigan wants to sabotage that and creates a plan to ruin Annie’s search.
The audience can expect unforgettable songs, such as It’s the Hard Knock Life, Easy Street, I Don’t Need Anything But You and Tomorrow.