He’s been a choreographer and judge on BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing since its inception 20 years ago, but Craig Revel Horwood is also a performer in his own right.
He starred in the original, Olivier-winning production of Crazy for You in 1993, and has further West End notches on his belt thanks to stints in Cats and Miss Saigon.
In 2015, he took the part of corrupt orphanage owner Miss Hannigan in Michael Harrison and David Ian’s production of Annie – the 1930s-set musical about a New York orphan who dreams of finding a better life.
He has reprised the role of Miss Hannigan several times since then, both on tour and in the West End. In his own words, he’s “deeply in love with her”, which is why he’s back in her wig and heels this summer.
With Annie coming to Bromley’s Churchill Theatre this July, here’s Craig on his life-long love of musical theatre, the challenges of working with children and how he switches off in his downtime…
You’re known in homes across the UK as a judge on Strictly Come Dancing, but you’re also a performer. How do you find bringing characters to life on stage?
Well, I grew up on musicals. I did West Side Story in Australia and then went into Me and My Girl and La Cage Aux Folles.
I joined the famous Lido de Paris and the Moulin Rouge and then that led into being part of West End shows.
The last musical I appeared in on the West End was Crazy For You which opened in 1993. I then left to become a director and choreographer, and subsequently a judge on Strictly.
My first hoorah back onto the boards was when I was asked to do panto over ten years ago, and that reignited my passion for performing.
When I was then asked to do Annie [for the 2015 tour] I couldn’t believe it, and I’ve not looked back since!
Annie UK Tour 2023. Zoe Akinyosade (Annie). Photo: Paul Coltas.
What made you decide to return to Annie for the 2023 tour and what is so appealing about the role of drunk and wicked orphanage owner Miss Hannigan?
I just love this character so much. I am deeply in love with her. I think she is absolutely fantastic and an extremely misunderstood woman.
Playing her is like an actor’s playground, she is a tyrant and a villain, and those are always the most fun characters to play.
I couldn’t believe that they wanted me to play Miss Hannigan at first, but I thought it would be great, and a real challenge for me.
I play her for real – she’s not a pantomime dame, there’s no mucking about or breaking the fourth wall, she’s a very real character in a beautifully written show.
There’s a lengthy hair and make-up ritual that transforms you into Miss Hannigan, which you’ve posted on social media in the past. But are there any particular challenges to playing her?
Well the challenges are that you need to be honest and real with it.
Obviously, body language has a lot to do with that, how she speaks, and the accent of course – which I spent months perfecting.
As Annie is set in 1930s New York, it’s really nice to play a part who speaks differently than almost anyone does these days.
It’s long been said never work with children or animals, but in Annie you do both! How are you coping?
We have several sets of children performing in Annie, and they bring something really organic to the show.
You’ll never get the same show twice. You have to play it differently with each set of children, and they are so talented and doing incredible work on the stage and are all fantastic young actors.
They will come up with stuff and you’ve got to react to it live on stage which is a bit of a challenge!
What was your first experience of musical theatre?
The first show that I ever went to see was Jesus Christ Superstar in Sydney back in the 1970s. I just fell in love with theatre right there and then.
I started training when I was 14, and when I saw Cats in London around the same time, I knew that was absolutely what I wanted to do.
How do you find being on tour?
I enjoy the difference in the theatres, the public and their relationships with the stage which always change. You find audiences differ around the country and that’s what is so great about live theatre.
Do you have any ‘must-have’ items you take with you?
Eyelashes and eyelash glue.
What does relaxing look like to you?
I like sleeping in my own bed and cooking in my own home. There’s nothing better to pass the time – whether to test and make up some new recipes or really get stuck into cooking something. I love it, I could cook for days on end.
Have you ever been given a piece of advice, or some words of wisdom that have stuck with you?
My teacher used to say, “you need to be like a tiger and fearless”, which is of course very apt for this industry.
You must be prepared to fail, and as soon as you get used to that you start learning. Personally, I feel that listening to your inner voice is the most important thing, especially when making decisions in this industry. I don’t often rule with my head; I rule with my heart.
Annie is coming to the Churchill Theatre, High Street, Bromley BR1 1HA.
July 24 – 29, 7:30pm.
Admission: £30.50/concessions available.
www.churchilltheatre.co.uk/Online/tickets-annie-the-musical-bromley-2023
