Irish Annie’s opens its 2025 nationwide tour next week…
Brookside, Cracker and The Royle Family star Ricky Tomlinson heads a talented cast of performers in the production which is due to travel across England, Scotland and Wales, playing at 30 venues over two months.
The tour will open at the Liverpool Olympia next Friday 2 May, before travelling to locations including Bradford – the UK City of Culture 2025, Buxton, Birmingham, Newcastle upon Tyne, Dundee, Glasgow, Lincoln, Worcester, Chelmsford, Cardiff and Exeter, ending at the Isle of Man’s historic Matcham-designed Gaiety Theatre on Friday 4 July.
Irish Annie’s is an irresistible celebration of Irish culture. Join landlady Annie and her regular madcap customers for a fun night of music, comedy and mayhem, featuring original tracks written for the show by Asa Murphy along with your all-time favourite Irish tunes including The Black Velvet, The Wild Rover, Dirty Old Town, Danny Boy and many more.
The evening promises to have the audience laughing, singing and dancing the night away.
Ricky Tomlinson performs as himself, appearing as a celebrity guest in Annie’s pub. The actor and comedian is best known for his roles as Bobby Grant in Brookside, DCI Charlie Wise in Cracker and Jim Royle in The Royle Family. He also played the title character in Mike Bassett: England Manager, and more recently he has been seen on television alongside friend and former ‘screen wife’ Sue Johnston in Channel 4’s Ricky, Sue and a Trip or Two, and in ITV’s DNA Journey.
Ricky will be joined by Samantha Alton as landlady Annie, Lynne Fitzgerald as Moira the Money Lender, Leslie Longley as Porky the Postman and Richard Barry who reprises the role of Noel Singen-Smithe – along with Irish Annie’s creator Asa Murphy as Seamus Murphy and the toe-tapping, foot-stomping six-piece band The Shenanigans who perform live at every show.
Actress, stand-up comedian and improviser Samantha Alton is the eponymous Annie. Lynne Fitzgerald is Mona. Leslie Longley plays Porky the Postman and Richard Barry returns to Irish Annie’s, having played bar regular Noel on tour in 2024.
Irish Annie’s is brought to the stage by Bill Elms Productions (Judy and Liza, Swan Song, Jerry Springer the Opera, Something About Simon, Something About George) and Asa Murphy Productions (Buddy Holly Lives, The Bobby Darin Story, New Generations, The Monkey with No Bum) and directed by Emma Vaudrey and Asa Murphy.
The 2025 dates follow a hugely successful tour of the UK and Ireland during spring 2024 where it played to thousands of people and won glowing reviews from critics who described it as “a show with a huge heart and barrels of love” and “a joyous celebration of Irish culture”.
For more details on Irish Annie’s visit www.irishannies.com
