Annie

It is always a pleasure to visit the lovely Abbey Theatre in Nuneaton and to spend time with the members of Masqueraders Theatrical Society.

This visit was particularly special, as I was joined by the NODA National President, Graham Liverton, and his wife, Ann. As ever, a warm welcome was extended to NODA, and we are grateful for the society’s hospitality.

There’s always something I look forward to with this society—not only the promise of an engaging performance from this community-driven group, but also the consistently high standard of set design, which once again did not disappoint.

The craftsmanship and imagination behind the set were superb. The production opened with a detailed back wall featuring central double doors. Downstage, were placed firmly in the era with a vintage office desk and a radio, cleverly wired to play an authentic broadcast. A similar radio effect later in the White House scene was equally effective.

The back wall itself was a smart piece of design, constructed with folding panels that opened at the doors to reveal a white cloth used for projections, and later transitioned almost seamlessly into the interior of Warbucks’ house.

The stage dressing and props added authenticity throughout. One I particularly appreciated, were the cinema seats — seen for just a moment, but they looked great and showed real attention to detail.

On the evening, I attended, Annie was played by Jemima Brookes, who gave a confident and charming performance. Jemima had a good stage presence and vocal ability with songs such as Maybe and of course Tomorrow. I was also pleased to meet Kiera Bray, the alternate Annie, and I’m certain she delivered equally impressive performances during her performances.

The junior ensemble did a fantastic job — well done to all involved. I must give special mention to Saoirse McEntee as Molly, who gave a natural performance, and Sebastian McEntee, who puppeteered Sandy the dog with great skill. A particularly special well done to you both.

The adult principals all delivered strong performances and worked well together.

Amy Hedges brought plenty of character to Miss Hannigan booze-soaked orphanage matron who opened the show with her fondness for Bundles the laundry man (played by Ethan Jephcott). Amy’s movement was expressive, and her rendition of Little Girls struck the balance of comedy and contempt for those unfortunate enough to be in her care.

A strong villainous pairing came from Amy Morris as Lily St. Regis (named after the hotel, of course!) and Ashley Blackstock as Rooster Hannigan. Together with Amy Hedges, the trio gave us a memorable and well-executed Easy Street.

Richard Yates brought confidence to the role of Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks, singing with clarit. his rendition of N.Y.C. was particularly enjoyable.

Georgie Norwood as Grace Farrell and Luke Rooks also gave strong, engaging performances that helped bring the show to life.

Alex Mistry as President Franklin D. Roosevelt and gave a convincing performance. I also really enjoyed Jack Deaves as Bert Healy in the radio broadcast scene — a great presence, and luckily for us in the audience, we were able to enjoy the visual performance and dance routines that radio listeners wouldn’t have seen!

Performances from the ensemble were strong with some good movement throughout from Gemma Eales as choreographer.

Makeup was thoughtfully applied and suited each character well, enhancing the overall appearance and period feel of the show.

And finally, though certainly not least, the orchestra. Under strong musical leadership of Dave Adams, the musicians provided a rich and supportive sound that elevated the performance throughout.

Congratulations to everyone involved with this production. It was a thoroughly enjoyable and memorable evening — you should all be very proud of what you achieved. Well done to directors Mike Chappell and Alex Lewis who I was pleased to meet for pulling the show off.

Looking ahead, Masqueraders Theatrical Society will return with Sunset Boulevard in November 2025, followed by Crazy for You in May 2026. Not to be outdone, the Junior Section will be staging Bugsy Malone also in May 2026. I await all three with great anticipation.

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