IT’S another year, another stonking success for Swish of the Curtain.

This time, the scene is 1930s New York, and the show is Annie, telling the tale of the feisty red-head who lives a ‘hard knock life’ after being dumped on the doorstep of a municipal orphanage as a baby.

I am always staggered by the slick professionalism of the Swish shows, and this year was no exception.

Another solid performance from Ollie Slee – who I’ve previously seen as Oliver’s Bill Sikes and Beast from Beauty and the Beast. Proving he can turn his hand to anything, this year he was coolly confident as Warbucks, the tough businessman whom Annie twists around her little finger.

Charlee Crutcher was perfectly cast as the hateful Miss Hannigan, while Lewis Edgar showed a maturity beyond his years as the scheming Rooster.

But of course, this show is all about Annie. Kyra Partridge was the consummate professional, with an effortless performance in the lead role – she is clearly born to be on the stage and I was blown away by her vocals, which even brought a tear to my eye.

A mention must also go to the delightful Willow, whose constantly wagging tail proved she loved every minute of her time in the spotlight as Sandy the dog.

There was a very slight deviation from the classic film’s storyline, but clever sets, classy costumes and boundless energy from even the youngest performers make this yet another must-see show from Swish.