Coronation Street star swaps the cobbles for Blackpool as she arrives in town with the cast of Annie
The TV legend, who also appeared in Brookside, is playing Miss Hannigan in the musical Annie at the Opera House in Blackpool.
Coronation Street’s Claire Sweeney has swapped the Weatherfield cobbles for Blackpool as she arrived in town with the cast of Annie.
The TV legend, who also appeared in Brookside, is playing Miss Hannigan in the musical Annie at the Opera House in Blackpool.
The star who has a proud list of TV and stage work to her name says it has always been her dream to feature as the tyrannical orphanage matron in the much-loved musical - and she has said farewell to the the world’s longest running soap drama to finally do it.
Although she is still to be seen on TV’s famous cobbles in episodes broadcast recently, in the role of Cassie Plummer she has played since 2023, the only Coronation Street will be strolling down this week is that outside the Winter Gardens as Annie comes to town.
The musical set in the 1930s about an orphan girl forced to live a life of misery and torment at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage is in Blackpool from tomorrow (Tues) until Saturday. August 1 - and Claire couldn’t be more thrilled.
“It’s great to be back in Blackpool and Miss Hannigan is a role I have always wanted to play - a real dream come true for me after first seeing Annie as a young girl,” she said.
“It’s a brilliant character and it’s the chance to play her that prompted my decision to give up Coronation Street.
“I’ve had a great time there playing Cassie and I will really miss the people there and the day-to-day routine of being on a TV drama, but touring in the role of Miss Hannigan is something I have always wanted to do and too good a chance to miss.
“I’m especially looking forward to the Blackpool run. The town and I go back a long way - from singing at the Norbreck Castle at 14 - and I have played all sorts of roles in Blackpool over the years and had a great time. “
With its Tony award-winning book and score, Annie includes songs such as ‘It’s a Hard Knock Life’, ‘Easy Street’, ‘I Don’t Need Anything But You’ and ‘Tomorrow’.
Among those sharing the stage with Claire in Annie are Alex Bourne as Oliver Warbucks, Tanisha-Mae Brown as Grace Farrell, Christian Cooper as Rooster, and Amber Kennedy as Lily St Regis.
Annie runs in Blackpool until August 1. Ticket details at www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk