Theatrically minded youngsters are bringing Annie to the Epsom Playhouse with the help of theatre school Songtime Theatre Arts.

The production, running from August 6-11, is the result of two weeks of intensive rehearsals by Songtime’s summer school students, a mixture of regular Songtimers and keen newcomers.

Co-director of the show, Doug Quinn says: “We have a cast of 60, aged from five to twenty. The older ones have helped the youngsters and there is a real ensemble feel.”

Annie, based on the Harold Gray comic strip Little Orphan Annie, follows the eponymous heroine’s quest to find her family. The musical features ever popular show tunes Tomorrow and It's the Hard Knock Life and it promises to be an all-singing, all-dancing spectacular.

“The fact that the show comes from a comic means the characters are larger than life and it is has a nice moral for our urgent times,” says Quinn.

Annie is, of course, accompanied on stage by her beloved dog Sandy. A real dog will be used at the Playhouse and Quinn, who is directing the show for the third time, is clearly not scared to break the golden rule of show business by working with children and animals.

“It’s a great show and it’s different everytime,” he says. “This is the Annie junior version that is shorter than the original and we are using professional backing tracks. The aim is to give the kids the big west end experience.”

This approach is at the heart of the Songtime ethos. Quinn is directing the show with the school’s principal Matthew Chandler and he believes the school offers a unique opportunity for youngsters who are keen to tread the boards.

He says: “Songtime is a theatre training school for the next generation. The teaching by a range of theatre professionals is very much performance driven and it offers great value for money. It is a good grounding for drama schools and our kids can move on with semi-professional experience under their belts rather just school plays.”

Annie is on at the Epsom Playhouse from August 6-11 at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. Reserve your seat by calling the box office on 01372 742555. Tickets are £12.50 or £10.00 for Pass Card holders For more information and to book tickets for Annie visit epsomplayhouse.co.uk. For more information about Songtime Theatre Arts visit songtime.co.uk