Craig Revel Horwood and Anita Dobson to play Miss Hannigan in Annie tour

Initial casting has been announced for the upcoming UK tour of Annie, which opens in Manchester in February.

Anita Dobson and Craig Revel Horwood will share the role of Miss Hannigan when Nikolai Foster's production hits the road again following its previous UK tour, West End run and sell-out season in Toronto.

Dobson will play the role from 2 February to 27 April 2019 and Craig will return to play the role from 30 April to 6 July 2019.

With music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin and a book by Thomas Meehan, the musical about a red-headed orphan searching for her parents features songs including "It's the Hard Knock Life", "Easy Street" and "Tomorrow".

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

It opens in Manchester on 2 February 2019 before touring to Wolverhampton, Oxford, Bristol, Chester, Hull, Newcastle, Glasgow, Bradford, Southampton, Plymouth, Llandudno, Nottingham, Southend, Sheffield, Woking, Dartford, Liverpool and Milton Keynes.