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PREVIEW: Annie @The Congress Theatre Eastbourne

Birds of a Feather star returns to play Miss Hannigan in Annie at Eastbourne.

LESLEY Joseph will star as Miss Hannigan in the smash hit production of the musical Annie at the Congress Theatre, Eastbourne from Tuesday, August 13 – Saturday, August 17.

Lesley joins Alex Bourne as Oliver Warbucks, Richard Meek as Rooster, Jenny Gayner as Lily and Carolyn Maitland as Grace Farrell and a full supporting cast.

This production recently ran for an extended season in the West End following a sell-out tour of the UK and Ireland in 2015/16 as well as a recent sell-out season in Toronto.

Lesley Joseph returns to role of ‘Miss Hannigan’ having played the part in this production in 2015/16.

She is best known for playing Dorien Green in the hugely successful sitcom Birds of a Feather alongside Pauline Quirke and Linda Robson. They recorded over 100 episodes over a period of nine years and returned to our screens in 2014 for a further three series.

Photo Matt Crockett
Photo Matt Crockett

Lesley most recently appeared as Frau Blucher in the West End production of the Mel Brooks musical Young Frankenstein for which she received an Olivier Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical. Her other theatre credits include Miss Hannigan in Annie at the West End’s Victoria Palace and also on national tour as well as the touring productions of Calendar Girls and Thoroughly Modern Mille.

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. Determined to find her real parents, her luck changes when she is chosen to spend Christmas at the residence of famous billionaire, Oliver Warbucks. Spiteful Miss Hannigan has other ideas and hatches a plan to spoil Annie’s search…

With its award-winning book and score, this stunning new 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. Annie is directed by Nikolai Foster with set and costume design by Colin Richmond, choreography by Nick Winston, lighting by Ben Cracknell and sound design by Richard Brooker. Annie is produced by Michael Harrison and David Ian.


Event: Annie starring Lesley Joseph

Where: Congress Theatre, 49 Carlisle Rd, Eastbourne BN21 4JR

When: Tuesday, August 13 – Saturday, August 17.

Time: 7.30pm nightly – plus 2.30pm matinee on Saturday

Cost: Tickets Tuesday – Thursday £21.50 – £42.50 and Friday-Saturday £24.50 – £47.50

To book tickets online, click here:

Or call 01323 442000

PREVIEW: Rotterdam @Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne

“No, Alice, I don’t want to become a man, I just want to stop trying to be a woman.”

FOLLOWING a critically-acclaimed West End run Jon Brittain’s Rotterdam is embarking on a UK tour.

It’s New Year in Rotterdam, and Alice has finally plucked up the courage to email her parents and tell them she’s gay. But before she can hit send, her girlfriend Fiona reveals that he has always identified as a man and now wants to start living as one named Adrian.

As Adrian begins his transition, Alice must face a question she never thought she’d ask… does this mean she’s straight?

A bittersweet comedy about gender, sexuality and being a long way from home from writer Jon Brittain, co-creator of Margaret Thatcher Queen of Soho, and writer of What Would Spock Do? and The Sexual Awakening of Peter Mayo.

★★★★ “Smartly observed and very funny… warm and emotionally intelligent” Evening Standard

★★★★“Brittain’s play is another reminder – warm, witty and wise – of the stupidity of thinking that there are only two genders”  Time Out


Event: Rotterdam by Jon Brittain

Where: Devonshire Park Theatre, 8-10 Compton St, Eastbourne BN21 4BW

When: Monday June 10 – Wednesday June 12

Time: Evenings at 7.45pm – Wednesday matinee 2.30pm

Cost: Monday – Wednesday £17 – £25 Wednesday matinee £19 all seats Concessions £1.50 off (7.45pm only)
Under 16s & Students £9 Under 25s £10 – Price inclusive of £1 per ticket booking fee

To book tickets online, click here:

Or call 01323 412 000

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