Annie to embark on new UK tour in 2019

The 2015 production of Annie, which recently had a run in the West End, will embark on a new UK tour in February 2019.

Directed by Nikolai Foster, the piece follows young orphan Annie as starts life in a 1930s orphanage under the tyrannical control of Miss Hannigan, before spending Christmas at the house of a billionaire. The show has music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin and a book by Thomas Meehan, and includes numbers such as "It's the Hard Knock Life", "Easy Street", "I Don't Need Anything But You" and "Tomorrow".

While running in the West End, the part of Miss Hannigan was played by Craig Revel Horwood, Meera Syal and Miranda Hart. Casting for the UK tour is to be announced.

In her review of the West End production, critic Sarah Crompton said the show had "a glistening message of cast-iron hope and optimism."

The tour will open in Manchester before performances in Wolverhampton, Oxford, Bristol, Chester, Hull, Glasgow, Bradford, Southampton, Llandudno, Nottingham, Southend, Woking, Dartford, Liverpool and Milton Keynes, with further dates to be announced.

The piece has set and costume design by Colin Richmond, choreography by Nick Winston, lighting by Ben Cracknell and sound design by Richard Brooker.