The world’s favourite family musical ‘Annie’ returns to Royal Concert Hall Nottingham this September

Michael Harrison and David Ian’s UK and Ireland tour of the musical Annie, starring Claire Sweeney as Miss Hannigan, will visit the Royal Concert Hall Nottingham from Tuesday 1 to Sunday 6 September 2026.

Claire will star alongside Alex Bourne as Oliver Warbucks, Tanisha-Mae Brown as Grace Farrell, Christian Cooper as Rooster, and Amber Kennedy as Lily St. Regis.

Also joining the company are Jack Buchanan, Harrison Burley, Zoë Canham, Sophie Elmes, Belle Kizzy Green, Issy Khogali, Yujin Park, Elliot David Parkes, Carl Sanderson, Michaela Stern, Matthew Sweet and Jessica Wright.

Claire Sweeney is an actress, singer and TV presenter, currently starring as Cassie Plummer in Coronation Street. She is also known for her role as Lindsay Corkhill in Brookside, with other television credits including Clocking Off, Holby City, Merseybeat, Benidorm and Scarborough.

Her extensive West End and touring credits include Roxie Hart in Chicago, Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls opposite Patrick Swayze, and roles in 9 to 5 the Musical, Crazy For You, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Legally Blonde and Hairspray. She has also starred in Educating Rita, Tell Me on a Sunday, Shirley Valentine and The Play What I Wrote.

Alex Bourne returns to Annie as Oliver Warbucks, having previously played the role in the West End, Toronto and on UK tour. His other theatre credits include The Wizard in The Wizard of Oz, Edna Turnblad in Hairspray, Sam Carmichael in Mamma Mia!, Khashoggi in We Will Rock You and Billy Flynn in Chicago. He also played Fred Graham in Kiss Me, Kate at Chichester Festival Theatre and the Old Vic, earning an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical. His film credits include Sony Pictures’ Cinderella.

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. Her luck soon changes when she’s chosen to spend a fairytale Christmas with famous billionaire, Oliver Warbucks. Meanwhile, spiteful Miss Hannigan has other ideas and hatches a plan to spoil Annie’s search for her true family.

With its Tony award-winning book and score, this stunning production includes the unforgettable songs ‘It’s the Hard Knock Life’, ‘Easy Street’, ‘I Don’t Need Anything But You’ and ‘Tomorrow’.

Annie has Music by Charles Strouse, Lyrics by Martin Charnin and a Book by Thomas Meehan. It is directed by Curve’s Artistic Director Nikolai Foster with set and costume design by Colin Richmond, choreography by Nick Winston, lighting by Ben Cracknell and sound design by Richard Brooker.

See Annie live at Royal Concert Hall Nottingham from Tuesday 1 to Sunday 6 September 2026. Visit www.trch.co.uk for tickets and further information.

ANNIE. Claire Sweeney (Miss Hannigan) and Young Company. Photo by Paul Coltas