Annie at Theatre Royal and Concert Hall Nottingham Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Katy Nettleton
I walked into the Royal Concert Hall on press night thinking I knew exactly what I was getting. I have seen the film more times than I can count. What I did not expect was to be this completely won over, and to still be humming Tomorrow the next morning.
Set in 1930s New York, the story is one a lot of us know by heart. A brave little girl stuck in a grim orphanage, a spiteful matron, a lonely billionaire, and a dog. It is a family favourite, and what this production gets so right is carrying all of that onto the stage without losing an ounce of its warmth.
On the press night the title role went to June Young, and she was a revelation. There is something quite magic about watching a young performer hold a room full of adults completely still, and that is exactly what she did, with a voice far bigger than you expect and a spirit that made you believe every word she sang. The orphans, played by the Rockefeller Team, were every bit her match. What got me most was watching them change across the evening. You really felt the children move from wariness and a kind of resigned acceptance towards actually daring to believe a different future might be possible. I was not prepared for how moving that was.
The adults were just as strong. Claire Sweeney was a gift as Miss Hannigan, all bitter comedy and bruised pride, and Alex Bourne gave Daddy Warbucks a lovely tenderness that crept up on you. Elliot David Parkes made a wonderfully slippery Rooster, and Matthew Sweet was a treat as Bert Healey. Nobody was coasting. Every performance felt properly lived in.
A special word on the staging, because it was pure brilliance. There is a “Matilda” quality to it, a clever simplicity that is nonetheless enormously effective, with set pieces that shift and rebuild in ways that genuinely kept us engaged right through the interval. The music and dancing were faultless and really brought the show to the audience, filling the auditorium with the kind of energy you can feel in your chest. It’s the Hard Knock Life, Easy Street and I Don’t Need Anything But You all landed exactly as they should, and my personal favourite, Tomorrow, was simply spine tingling.
And yes, Sandy the dog was an absolute audience highlight. The whole room melted.
The running time is spot on too, a first half of one hour and five minutes and a second half of one hour, which makes it lovely and manageable for children without ever dragging. With an age guidance of six and up, it is a brilliant first trip to the theatre.
What stayed with me is how much heart this show has, and how much of that comes from performers so young. If you have ever loved Annie, or you are looking for the show that hooks your children on live theatre, go. I could not recommend it more.
Annie runs at the Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham until Sunday 6 September 2026.
Rating: 4.5/5
Tickets cost from £26.50.
Annie is at the Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham from Tuesday 1st September to Sunday 6 September 2026, for more information or to book tickets visit www.trch.co.uk or call the box office on 0115 989 5555.
Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall, Theatre Square, Nottingham, NG1 5ND