Meet the North East singer-songwriter who has performed in West End and on cruise ships

Дата публикации: 19-07-2026 12:26:01

Annis Rallis who has performed in musical theatre productions across the world says music community in the North East is the most supportive collaborative scene there is

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Annis Rallis who has performed in musical theatre productions across the world says music community in the North East is the most supportive collaborative scene there is

Multi-talented North East musician Annis Rallis, 29, is set to release the first single of her debut EP 'Eyes Wide Open' this month. A labour of love and years in the making, the EP is inspired by her creative upbringing and energetic past.

The singer-songwriter and yoga teacher, originally from Newton Aycliffe, has spent years performing on cruise ships across Australia, stages of the West End, and travelling across Europe in leading theatre and dance roles. But it was in 2023 Annis decided to take up songwriting.

Having trained at Newcastle College and Stockton Riverside College before moving to drama school in London, Annis, whose mum was a dance teacher, said she was always torn between taking a career path in dance or music. Speaking to ChronicleLive, she said: "My grandma bought me a guitar when I was younger from a car boot sale that led me to lessons and singing.

"I fell into musical theatre and had a really successful career doing it, but obviously being in the arts there’s also a lot of rejection," Annis explained.

"There were a lot of things on that journey that made me lose myself almost. I achieved what I wanted to do. I've covered leading roles, did Dirty Dancing European Tour which was a dream musical of mine since watching as a child. I did West Side Story too, one of my aunties who was a professional singer favourite musicals as well."

Reflecting on her time on stage, Annis recalls landing a role in a leading German musical 'Tanz der Vampire' (Dance of the Vampires). "My agent said ‘pack a suitcase because if you get the job you move there’... I thought there's not a chance but I ended up getting the role and spontaneously moving to near Dusseldorf as an ensemble dancer.

"I’m a big believer in things happen for a reason and felt there was something about the leading role that would fit me so well. I had a strong gut feeling. Then Covid hit, I was locked down in Germany learning the language. I auditioned for the role and actually got it.

"You need thick skin in the industry and I got to the point of facing difficulties. For me, a girl from England, playing one of the biggest German roles, was one of the hardest things I’ve done but it was the craziest journey and I’m so glad I did it. I did the show for about three years and even did the 25th anniversary with Bonnie Tyler and got to sing total eclipse of the heart in German on stage with the other two leading girls."

However despite enjoying the success on stage, Annis candidly said: "I feel I was doing my family proud in theatre, but never felt like that was where I was meant to be." She then travelled to Bali to take up yoga training, adding: "I wanted to do something good for myself."

It was this experience that led her to pick up her pen. She continued: "It was amazing and really connected me to myself. It made me journal and notice how I’m feeling. I think when you’re on stage and you’re acting, you’re wearing a mask a lot and playing a character, it’s very regimented and it really made me feel like ‘how is Annis feeling? What do I want?’

"From there I started song-writing in 2023 and wrote a lot about relationships I’d been in. My new EP talks about resilience and rejection in the industry and rising strong, and explores themes of love, healing, growth and self-discovery."

Annis, whose dad is from Greece, has brought the sounds of the Mediterranean and Latin influences into her new music with a country twist. "I’ve explored lots of different genres," she said.

Since launching her music career, Annis has moved back to the north East and a few tracks have been played on BBC Introducing, described as ‘cinematic storytelling’. She said: "After travelling around the world I really missed home and my family as the last time I was here I was 18, I’m now 29.

"I want this to be my base and feel like the North East has so much to offer for the music industry and the amount of support I’ve had, even when first getting into songwriting.

"I feel so grateful to have met so many people from different countries and seen parts of the world. I wouldn’t be who I am now without my theatre background but I feel like this path right now I’m really releasing so much that I may have concealed a bit… It’s like therapy really," she jokes.

Annis adds the music scene in the North East feels like a family. "Everyone helps everyone and everyone I’ve come across is so supportive, it’s a big community. Music is collaborative and you cross paths with people. There’s so much talent here, it just felt right, I feel at ease and it’s comforting to come back to something familiar that feels like home to me.

"I’ve managed to start gigging at the Stack Newcastle and original gigs here and there. But I’ve just picked my guitar up again after years of being on stage and it’s been a full circle moment after I started off as a young girl with this guitar."

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