Claire Sweeney will take on the infamous role of Miss Hannigan
Soap star Claire Sweeney(Image: Getty Images)
Star of soaps Claire Sweeney has been cast in touring musical Annie, which heads for Hull later this year. Claire Sweeney takes on the role of the tyrannical Miss Hannigan in the production.
Claire joins the previously announced Alex Bourne as Oliver Warbucks, and the newly announced Tanisha-Mae Brown as Grace Farrell, Christian Cooper as Rooster, and Amber Kennedy as Lily St. Regis, in the show. It will visit Hull New Theatre as part of its UK and Ireland tour from September 8 to 13.
Claire is an actress, singer and TV presenter. She can currently be seen as series regular Cassie Plummer, in Coronation Street, and is well known for her role as Lindsay Corkhill in Brookside. Her other credits include roles in Clocking Off, Holby City, Merseybeat, Candy Cabs, Scarborough, The Good Ship Murder and Benidorm.
The star has many West End credits to her name, including playing Roxie Hart in Chicago at the Adelphi Theatre, and Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls, playing opposite Patrick Swayze, at The Piccadilly Theatre. Claire’s other stage credits include starring roles in national tours of 9 to 5 the Musical, Crazy For You, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Legally Blonde, Hairspray and September in the Rain.
She has played the title role in Educating Rita alongside Matthew Kelly and in 2011, she starred in a new production of Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Don Black’s one-woman show, Tell Me On A Sunday. Claire has also toured in the hit show Sex In Suburbia, which she co-wrote, following its hugely successful run at the Royal Court Liverpool.
Other theatre credits include Willy Russell’s classic Shirley Valentine, White Christmas, Shout!, a world tour of Fosse, and The Play What I Wrote. Annie the musical is 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. Her luck soon changes when she is chosen to spend a fairytale Christmas with famous billionaire, Oliver Warbucks.
Meanwhile, spiteful Miss Hannigan has other ideas and hatches a plan to spoil Annie’s search for her true family. With its Tony award-winning book and score, this stunning production includes the unforgettable songs It’s the Hard Knock Life, Easy Street, I Don’t Need Anything But You and, of course, Tomorrow.
Tickets are on sale now. Book at the Hull City Hall Box Office, call 01482 300 306 or visit hulltheatres.co.uk for more information.