TASIS England's “Annie Jr.” Production Receives National School Theatre Award Nominations

By the time the curtain fell on the final show of TASIS England's production of “Annie Jr.”, it had already been nominated for Best International School Production. The show, which ran from March 11 to March 12 in the School’s very own Fleming Theatre, has since earned nominations for Best Ensemble - Hard Knock Life, Best Lighting Design, and two nominations for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for Olivia (Grade 12) and Lila (Grade 12).

These nominations follow a highly positive review from the National School Theatre Awards, which described the production as “lively, colourful, and wonderfully entertaining,” and praised the strength of the ensemble along with the warmth and energy of the performance. This is the first year for the Best International School Production award, making TASIS England a potential inaugural winner. Indeed, recognition from the National School Theatre Awards reflects the exceptional standard of performing arts at TASIS England. 

From the opening number to the final bow, audiences were treated to standout performances, a well-behaved “Good Boy” pet actor, bold choreography, and a phenomenal live orchestra. Striking set and lighting design brought the world of Depression-era New York to life. At the heart of the production were a cast and crew of 72 students across Grades 5-12, brought to life under the direction of Mrs. Brymer (Lower and Middle School Theatre Teacher). Also supporting were Mrs. Hayden (Co-Head of Music and Music Director), Mr. McConville (Upper School Theatre and Film Teacher as the Character Development Coach), Ms. McFadden (Theatre Technician), and parent volunteer Mrs. Lagendijk, who oversaw the costumes. Set design came from Ben Gordon Productions, with works beginning before Christmas.

El (Grade 12) took on the role of Assistant Director and managed a 20-member student tech crew. El undertook significant responsibilities that included running warm-ups and planning the movements and positioning of the actors (known as “blocking”) during the overture sequence. Mrs. Brymer described these as some of the many skills that can be developed through engagement with theater.

Mrs. Brymer says the production of “Annie Jr.” was a significant step up from their previous show.

“I'm proud of the kids. They've worked really hard, because this is quite a new thing for them to throw themselves into a production like this, and all of a sudden, we went from quite a small production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to this huge musical of 72 kids involved with so many moving parts, but they worked really hard, and it all paid off.” 

This was truly a community event rather than just a production.

“There's a real sense of the community coming together through theater.”

For the seniors, this production was as much a farewell as a celebration. It was an emotional recognition of everything they have contributed to a program that many consider their creative home at TASIS England. With legacy and service central to TASIS England’s values, the focus now turns to passing those skills down through the year groups, ensuring the next generation stays connected to what came before.

The nominations are more than a moment of pride for the TASIS England community; they reflect our commitment to the arts as a cornerstone of student life and one of the many pathways that our students can pursue. Theater builds confidence, empathy, and a sense of belonging, and this production embodied all three. 

Mrs. Brymer is proud that “Annie Jr.” created a “real sense of the community coming together through theater” and thanked the TASIS England leadership team for their belief in the production and their support for the performing arts at TASIS England. 

As we celebrate our national recognition, we applaud our students' achievements, and we look forward to seeing what comes to the stage next. 

Fingers crossed for this summer!

You can learn more about the National School Theatre Awards here and see more photos in our Flickr album.