EW's Chat with the Annies! | ExpatWoman.com
 

EW's Chat with the Annies!

Posted on

30 March 2015

Last updated on 31 March 2019


EW's Chat with the Annies!

Ahead of this year's smash hit musical, ANNIE!, we had the great chance to interview both the main girls Jordan Watton (pictured left) and Nairne Hannah (pictured right).
 
Nairne Hannah - AnnieNairne Hannah - Annie
 
Who is your favourite Annie in the 3 films? Aileen Quinn, Alicia Morton or Quvenzhané Wallis?
J: My favourite Annie is Aileen Quinn, as I don’t think that you can beat the original film, she did a great job of the role. I think this is why so many versions of the show and musicals have been undertaken.
N: Aileen Quinn – she was cheeky and cute. It’s easy to see why Mr. Warbucks wanted to adopt her. She started my interest in the story.

What made you want to become an actress?
J: I used to love watching Pantomines and shows from an early age wishing that was me, so I joined a drama / musical theatre group. From then I love being on stage and loved sinking my teeth into a juicy script. The thrill of the performance and the reaction of the audience gives me a warm feeling inside.
N: I enjoy being on stage and making people smile.

How did your auditions go here in Dubai?
J: I really wanted the part of Annie, so I gave it my all and did everything I could to win the role. Annie is my favourite musical and I knew if I got the part I would love it. I was a bit nervous at first, but once I got into it my training took over. The managers at Popular Productions helped to make us feel very relaxed on the day, which made it fun, this always helps me to perform better.
N: They were tough – I was number 105 out of nearly 300 girls and it took forever for my turn and with each passing minute I became more nervous. Once I got started I loved it.


You might also be interested in:
Do you find yourselves to be very similar to each other?
J: Well, Nairne and I met at an audition in 2013, and hit it off straight away. We both had the same interest in performing. Outside of performing we both love playing Sims together and have become good friends.
N: Oh definitely – we are best friends and share and learn so much from each other…It’s awesome !

What is it like working with your fellow cast members?
J: Absolutely fabulous , I’ve worked with Popular Productions since 2012 , they have given me the most amazing experiences, and I just love meeting new people as well as working with people from previous shows who have now also become very good friends. We are all like one big happy family.
N: The girls are great and we all have a laugh – the adult actors are professional and supportive – when I struggle a bit they help me and show me ways to dance or say my lines.
 

What has been your favourite part about being Annie?
J: Apart from Annie being my favourite musical, just everything about it , the experience , making new friends ,younger kids looking up to me. I guess my favourite bits are to work closely with so many talented actor/actresses, like Ellie Leah (playing Miss Hannigan), who is by far the best Miss Hannigan I have ever seen, and secondly I get my own bow, something I’ve been aiming towards for the past couple of y
ears.
N: Being the show, being on stage, singing the songs and meeting new people…. Just enjoy EVERY minute of this experience.
EW's Chat with the Annies!
 

How do you both memorise your lines?
J: I do Lamda drama so im quite used to memorizing my lines, and because I enjoy the show, it makes the process so much easier. My technique is to learn the script line by line, I find it much easier than trying to learn too much in one go.
N: Reading and re reading… sometimes family helped and just before start of rehearsals Ms Jo Mc Cullough from my school helped me a lot..

How old are you?
J: 14
N: I turned 12 on the 21st March

Have your friends been very supportive of your work?
J: Yes my friends have been very supportive, and I’m touched by how many family members, friends and even teachers from the school are coming to see me in the show. My fellow cast members have also become my friends, they give me constant reassurance after each scene, even if I make mistakes.
N: Yes – many are coming to the show.

Okay, now to test your knowledge! What is Miss Hannigan’s first name?
J: Agatha
N: Aggie 
 
What year was Annie born?
J: 28th October 1922.
N: 1922
 
What are the name of Annie’s real parents?
J: David and Margaret Bennett.
N: David and Margaret Bennet
 
Where did Annie first make an appearance? In Radio, TV, comic or film?
J: Annie first made an appearance in a Comic.
N: A comic


SEE ALSO: We caught up with Ellie Leah, ahead of her performance as Miss Hannigan this year! 


Show Times: 2nd - 17th April 2015


ANNIE
  • Thursday 2nd April: 7:30pm
  • Friday 3rd April: 3pm
  • Friday 3rd April: 7:30pm
  • Saturday 4th April: 11am
  • Saturday 4th April: 2:30pm
  • Monday 6th April: 7:30pm
  • Tuesday 7th April: 7:30pm
  • Wednesday 8th April: 7:30pm
  • Thursday 9th April: 7:30pm
  • Friday 10th April: 3pm
  • Friday 10th April: 7:30pm
  • Saturday 11th April: 1pm
  • Saturday 11th April: 5pm
  • Monday 13th April: 7:30pm 
  • Tuesday 14th April: 7:30pm
  • Wednesday 15th April: 7:30pm
  • Thursday 16th April: 7:30pm
  • Friday 17th April: 3pm
  • Friday 17th April: 7:30pm

No performances on the 5th or 12th April.


The 2015 Cast of Annie in Dubai


Annie - JORDAN WATTON / NAIRNE HANNAH
Oliver 'Daddy' Warbucks -  DAVID STREAMES
Miss Hannigan - ELLIE LEAH
Grace Farrell -  LUCY HUNTER-JAMES
Rooster Hannigan - JAY BRYCE
Lily St. Regis - GEORGIA PERMUTT
President Roosevelt / Lt. Ward - JAMES DINSMORE
Drake / Bert Healy / Hull - ROB WILSHAW

Annie - Jordan WattonAnnie - Nairne Hannah
Warbucks - David StreamsMiss Hannigan - Ellie LeahGrace Farrell - Lucy Hunter JamesRooster - James Bryce
Lily St Regis - Georgia PermutPresident Roosevelt - James DinsmoreDrake / Bert Healy - Rob Wilshaw

Molly - TIA BORLEY / HEIDI WRIGHT
Tessie - MOLLY HARLAND
MIMI MUCKENSCHNABL
ANKA KOSANOVIC
Kate - ISABELLA BRIMSON
ANNEKETRIEN VAN WASSENHOVE
ELLEN JONES
July - EMILY SAVORY
SARA BOUSTANY
NATASHA DUGGAN
Pepper - EVE THOMAS
RANA IRAVANI
BOGLARKA KURUCZ
Duffy - TILLY HOLLANDS
GIVERNY HOWORTH
ALEXANDRA DUGGAN
Mrs Greer - DIANN BOEHM
Mrs Pugh - KAREN CLAYTON
Cecile / Connie Boylan - HALEY SIMMONDS
Annette / Ronnie Boylan - HOLLY JHOOLUN
Bonnie Boylan - EMILY BERRY
Fred McCracken - DANIEL JHOOLUN
Jimmy Johnson / Howe - HAMID IRAVANI
Ickes / Bundles - SIMON ROUTLEDGE
Morganthau - ELROY D'MELLO

Read more about the full cast here >>


Tickets on sale now from www.annieonstage.com
 
 

ON EXPATWOMAN TODAY