It can be a hard knock life both on and off stage but the cast and crew of Workington and District Amateur Musical Society’s production of Annie made sure it was also full of fun, laughter and heart-warming moments that make you go “aww”.

Bringing together the society’s adult and Next Generation groups, the show lived up to the billing that earned it sell-out status days before the first curtain up.

And, being a story centred around the residents of an orphanage, it provided a fantastic opportunity for some of the society’s shining stars of the future to tread the boards and show their sparkling potential.

One of those was Layla Nicol who, at just 10, demonstrated that she had no trouble taking centre stage or leading the way with her believable and heartfelt portrayal of the show’s eponymous heroine.

Little Annie’s commanding power in the orphanage spilled over into the auditorium as Layla took to her leading role with ease.

Victoria Vaughan entertained brilliantly as gin-swigging orphanage worker Miss Hannigan, giving a spectacular rendition of the act one number Little Girls.

Jack Pike’s portrayal of billionaire businessman turned father figure Oliver Warbucks was humorous and heart-warming in equal measure, while Mark Stilwell’s Rooster, Chelsea Fisher’s Lily and Josh Pattison’s Drake helped to inject extra comic creativity into proceedings, all ably assisted by the supporting cast.

A review of this show would not be complete without mentions of two supporting stars.

Firstly, the show’s four-legged star Henry Walker who, as Sandy, tugged at everyone’s heart strings and earned himself a united “aww” from the audience. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one in the house thinking “I hope he gets this right” when his crucial moment came but he ably proved he was the dog for the job without so much as an attempt to steal the show.

Secondly, a mention has to go to Isabelle Pears. She might be one of the society’s youngest members at just eight but little Isabelle expressed a confidence and boldness that many a decade or two her senior might struggle to muster as she played the role of one of Annie’s orphan companions, Molly, and earned plenty of laughs along the way.

But, in a show that’s all about family, the bond between the orphans shone through, showing a closeness and team spirit that clearly permeates Wadams as a society as much as it does the group of characters on stage.

A big well done to the production team. They say you should never work with children or animals but this team has proved it is possible to work with both at the same time and come out smiling.

And, as anyone who has seen the show will know, you’re never fully dressed without a smile.

Annie runs at the Carnegie Theatre in Workington until Saturday.