The sun came out at Swindon’s Wyvern Theatre last night — inside the auditorium.
Yes, it was warm enough to turn your interval ice cream into a milkshake before you even found your way back to your seat. But the real heat came from the stage, as the Summer Youth Project’s Annie proved once again that Swindon’s young talent can light up even the hottest of evenings.
Directed by David Ashley and produced by Oli Webb, this year’s production had all the charm, energy and heart you could want. Annie, played brilliantly by Lily Moir, was a force of nature. Even when the odd sound glitch tried to steal the moment, her voice soared right to the back row without a microphone in sight — a vocal power that could probably carry over to the Old Town Gardens.
Miss Hannigan was brought to life in superb fashion by Roman Draycott, making his SYP debut and channelling the film’s mischievous spirit to perfection. Lottie Waller gave a glittering SYP farewell performance as Lily St. Regis, while Cory White’s Rooster oozed mischief and swagger in every scene.
Special mention must go to Harri Darley, who, in his final SYP appearance, infused President Roosevelt with both authority and heart — a fitting swan song for someone who has been such a commanding presence in these productions for years.
Sandy the dog didn’t get much stage time (perhaps wisely avoiding heat-induced fur frizz) but was showered with affection from the audience every time she padded on stage.
As a lifelong fan of the film, I was thrilled to see how this cast, with just one week to rehearse, delivered a performance that was nothing short of remarkable. In fact, I’d say it eclipsed the professional Annie I saw in Birmingham a few years back.
Swindon’s Summer Youth Project has once again shown that with passion, talent and a good dose of fun, local theatre can rival the pros. I love Swindon’s SYP — here’s to next year’s show!
