From a celebration of Take That to a Strictly Come Dancing judge taking centre stage, these are the West End shows heading to Norwich Theatre Royal in August 2023.

Norwich Evening News: Annie the Musical is coming to Norwich Theatre Royal Annie the Musical is coming to Norwich Theatre Royal (Image: Paul Coltas)

1. Annie, August 1 to 5

This hit West End and Broadway musical is set in New York in the 1930s during The Great Depression, featuring hit songs such as Tomorrow and It's the Hard-Knock Life.

Annie lives a life of misery at an orphanage run by the spiteful Miss Hannigan, played by Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood.

Annie's luck changes when she is chosen to spend Christmas with the billionaire Oliver Warbucks, but Miss Hannigan has other ideas. 

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Norwich Evening News: Greatest Days is coming to Norwich Theatre Royal Picture: Alastair MuirGreatest Days is coming to Norwich Theatre Royal Picture: Alastair Muir (Image: Alastair Muir)

2. Greatest Days, August 7 to 12

Next up is Greatest Days, which is a jukebox musical featuring more than 15 Take That songs and a book by Tim Firth. 

The show was previously called The Band and it was performed both on the West End and on a UK tour, which included a run at Norwich Theatre Royal in 2018.

It follows five boy band-obsessed best friends in the 1990s, who reunite more than 20 years later to see their heartthrobs one last time in what could be the Greatest Days of their life.

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Norwich Evening News: Zoe Birkett as Rachel Marron in The BodyguardZoe Birkett as Rachel Marron in The Bodyguard (Image: Supplied by Norwich Theatre)

3. The Bodyguard, August 28-September 2

The Bodyguard stars Pop Idol contestant turned West End sensation Zoe Birkett as Rachel Marron and Ayden Callaghan (Emmerdale, Hollyoaks) as Frank Farmer. 

Farmer, a former secret service agent, is hired to protect superstar Marron from an unknown stalker. Each expects to be in charge – what they don’t expect is to fall in love.

The score features songs recorded by Whitney Houston, including One Moment in Time, I Wanna Dance with Somebody and I Will Always Love You.

Buy tickets at norwichtheatre.org