When The Addams Family was cancelled due to the onset of the pandemic, few would have thought that our then fresh-faced First Years would have to wait two whole years to have their moment treading the boards on the Churcher’s musical stage.

The opening night of Annie proved it has been worth the wait: they have honed their skills (and American accents!) to perfection over that time and, joined by the current First and Second Year, brought the Sports Hall alive with classic songs like ‘Maybe’, ‘It’s a Hard Knock Life’ and, of course, ‘Tomorrow’. 

The set changes were seamlessly choreographed from the orphanage to Hooverville, where the homeless live, to Warbucks’ enormous mansion on 5th Avenue. 

It was a delight to be able to see and not just hear the live orchestra, who did such a fantastic job with the wonderful melodies.

Even with all the whistles and bells of a big musical like Annie you need a great cast, and this production has that in spades. Of course, you have a to have a superb Annie to carry the show. The delightful Cecily Morrogh, who looks like she was born to play this part, melted the audience’s heart as well as that of Warbucks, the patrician and statesman-like Raph Chamberlain. 

The well-deserved standing ovation was testament to the fact that whoever coined the phrase that one should never work with children or animals had clearly never met the pupils of Churcher’s College. Bravo! 

Take a look at all the amazing photos here.