by Rachel Quigley

Props and bits of scenery are strewn around the room, costumes hang on walls, script sheets lie on tables, members of the cast are rehearsing their lines, the crew are running around making sure everything is in working order and the production director is barking out orders. Anyone could mistake this scene for backstage at a Broadway musical, and in some ways it is – except it's not Broadway, it's Knockavoe and they're putting the finishing touches to their version of hit musical Annie.

One of the greatest children's musicals of the 80s, featuring songs like 'Tomorrow' and 'It's the Hard Knock Life', Annie is set in the 1930s and tells the story of orphan Annie who gets to taste life in The Big Apple whilst searching for her real parents.

Knockavoe School and Resource Centre's rendition will be the first of its kind in the North; it is the first school catering for children with different types of special needs to put on a full scale production within a professional theatre.

The school will take to the Alley Theatre on Thursday, May 15 and Friday, May 16 at 7pm in what is sure to be a great family night out. Tickets for the show sold out less than two weeks after they went on sale, something which all the staff and pupils are very proud of.

Speaking to the cast and crew before the upcoming show, excitement levels were evidently high, yet it was clear many of them were also exhausted, after working tirelessly around the clock for the last five weeks.

Julie Murphy, vice-principal of the school, said, "The kids have really surprised us, they have coped so well with the strain and challenge of bringing the show to the stage.

"Doing a play is hard enough but doing one with children with learning difficulties, on a professional stage is exhausting, yet we can't believe how marvellous they've been. They're a credit to us. Everyone is really excited and the parents of the children are over the moon. They can't believe they are going to see their kids perform on a professional stage."

Due to the demands of the role, the part of Annie will be played by three different girls; Amy Grier, 11, Shanna Patton, 14, and Michaela Parke, 13. Speaking about their role, Shanna revealed that she was a wee bit nervous but really excited, with Michaela admitting, "I love being Annie because I get to wear a nice dress."

The whole school is involved in the production, whether out front or behind the scenes. Stephen Mc Devitt, 14, says "It's great to speak with an American accent in a wee town like Strabane", whilst Ciaran Patton, 6, admits, "I can't wait to be a movie star!"

Heading the production, Catriona Kerrigan admits that they couldn't have got this far without the help of everyone behind the scenes, who have helped bring it altogether. "With the great help of Changing Faces in Derry, Olive Sills and Theresa Logue, we were able to get all the fantastic costumes, which we are really pleased with. Graft Recruitment helped with the scenery and members of staff, as well as St Vincent de Paul provided the props. We couldn't have done the show without their help.

"It's going to be fantastic for the school to perform in the Alley and show off all our wonderful talents, " she added.

Juda Kuzma, 14, who plays President Roosevelt said, "I have never been in a play before and would like to be in the headlines." His dream is sure to come true as the cast of Annie will undoubtedly make headlines after their sell out show this weekend.