ANNIE is coming to town as Alton’s Strictly Showtime stages the hit musical this summer.

The group is holding auditions for its staging of the popular play on January 26. Two terms of rehearsals will culminate in the staging of Annie in June and all children auditioning will get a role of some sort in the show, which is staged solely by children aged seven to 12.

Teacher and former West End star Rachel Barker said: “Annie is such a wonderful show for this age group. The children are going to have so much fun putting it on and we can’t wait to get started.”

Strictly Showtime put on full-size musicals for this age group twice a year. Recent shows have included Bugsy Malone, Oliver and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.

Running alongside Annie, the group’s younger children (ages four to seven) are starting work on staging Beauty and the Beast.

For more details, visit strictlyshowtime.co.uk, call 07875 764788 or e-mail [email protected].