With the world premiere of 13 Going on 30 – The Musical having a recent run at Manchester Opera House, Anna De Oliveira played Lulu in the musical, working with Amelia Minto (Young Jenna), Max Bispham (Young Matt), Lucie Jones (Jenna), David Hunter (Matt) and Grace Mouat (Lucy), and she performed in the opening number – Wanna Be – which went viral on TikTok, and she was directed by Andy Fickman. Last year, Anna was in the cast of The Children’s Inquiry at Southwark Playhouse, and in 2023, she played Young Sofia on the UK Tour of La Bamba, which featured Pasha Kovalev. Further projects for Anna include the 2019 musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at The London Palladium, which marked her professional and West End debut, and Sheridan Smith, Jac Yarrow and Jason Donovan were also in the cast, and Anna worked on the 2022 release of Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical film. Anna trains at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts, and she is featured in CBBC’s new documentary series Stage Stars, which released recently, and while filming, she was cast as Reno in their production of Anything Goes. Answering our questions, we found out from Anna about playing Lulu in the world premiere of 13 Going on 30 – The Musical at Manchester Opera House, her time in The Children’s Inquiry, La Bamba and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and being part of CBBC’s new documentary Stage Stars.

What was it like finding out you’d be joining the cast of the world premiere production of 13 Going on 30 – The Musical as Lulu and how would you describe the character?

I was so happy and excited to be cast in the world premiere of 13 Going on 30 and have the opportunity to work with such an incredible cast and creative team, including Lucie Jones, Grace Mouat, David Hunter and Andy Fickman. I’ve always loved the film, and it was such an honour to be part of bringing it to the stage. The audition process was so much fun, and I immediately loved the music and choreography, so I was thrilled to be cast as Lulu! Lulu is the leader of the popular Six Chicks clique and the archetypal high school mean girl. She’s strong, fierce and manipulative – the ultimate queen bee.

How was it performing the opening number Wanna Be and seeing the video from the rehearsal event go viral on TikTok?

I absolutely loved performing Wanna Be, especially as the Six Chicks have the ‘reveal’ like in Heathers! It’s a brilliant opening number when the audience gets to meet all the characters as their younger selves, and Jennifer Weber’s choreography is iconic, but I wasn’t expecting it to go viral! Seeing everyone’s reaction to the rehearsal video made us even more excited for the run, and I loved watching other people’s TikToks of the Six Chick dance and ponytail grab.

What did you enjoy about performing alongside your fellow cast members (which included Amelia Minto, Max Bispham, Lucie Jones, David Hunter and Grace Mouat) and being directed by Andy Fickman?

Every single member of the cast is unbelievably talented and inspiring, and it was such a privilege to perform alongside them all. Andy Fickman is the best director and working with him has been a highlight of the show for me. He is incredibly kind and encouraging, and great fun too! He would bring us all together in a circle on stage before each show to give us a motivational speech and words of encouragement. I’ve learnt so much, both professionally and personally, working with him and this cast. I’ve made some really great friends among the younger cast members. We spent so much time together, both on and off stage, and at the hotel in Manchester, and I have the most amazing memories.

What was it like getting into character as Lulu and how did you find the experience originating the role at the Manchester Opera House?

Watching the film a lot helped me get into character, then at the beginning of rehearsals, I created a Pinterest board and Spotify playlist I thought Lulu would make to step fully into her shoes. In a three-day bootcamp, Andy also did a lot of character work with us, such as doing a catwalk to a chosen song as our character.

Originating the role of Lulu has been such a privilege. There’s something really special about being the first person to bring a character to life and I enjoyed being able to make the role my own, to a certain extent! I loved being in Manchester – the Opera House is a beautiful theatre and the audiences were amazing.

Can you tell us about your time performing in The Children’s Inquiry at Southwark Playhouse last year?

I’m very grateful to have been part of this powerful and important verbatim musical about the care system in the UK. I learnt so much about the injustices children have faced over the years and how they were repeatedly failed, and it was an honour to share their stories and help raise awareness. It was also a valuable experience for me as a performer – the cast was made up entirely of children and young adults, and we were on stage throughout the show, which really prepared me for adult roles. I had the opportunity to perform several solos and play multiple roles, which was challenging but helped me grow as a performer. I also made some amazing friends along the way.

How was it playing Young Sofia on the 2023 UK Tour of La Bamba?

Playing Young Sofia in this high-energy musical was so much fun. I sang the most beautiful solo, Mariposa, the choreography and dancing were brilliant, and I even got to dance with Pasha Kovalev from Strictly! I really enjoyed touring and performing in different theatres, and it was wonderful to be back in the West End.

In 2019, you were in the cast of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at The London Palladium, what are some of your favourite memories from having the musical as your professional and West End debut?

It was absolutely amazing to make my professional and West End debut at the iconic London Palladium and share the stage with Sheridan Smith, Jac Yarrow, and Jason Donovan. A favourite memory is finding out I’d been cast – I was in the car after school and my mum asked me to read an email. I thought I was in trouble, but it was a congratulations message from the wonderful late Jo Hawes!

The first day of rehearsals was unforgettable, meeting the cast and creatives for the first time, including Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber and Sir Tim Rice. As I was part of the original cast of the new production of Joseph, I remember being really excited seeing the pictures of the set and costumes for the first time and thinking this is going to be incredible! My first time on the Palladium stage and performing our first show were also special moments. Other highlights include being lifted up as the goat, tumbling across the stage, and performing the Megamix, which just felt like a big party!

We understand you performed with the show on This Morning and recorded Any Dream Will Do for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, what were both like to do?

Performing on This Morning is one of my favourite memories of my time in Joseph. It was my first time in a TV studio, and we were all so excited in the dressing room as we got fitted with our mics. It was summer and we performed outside, with lots of people stopping to watch and cheer, which made the experience even more memorable.

I really enjoyed being back in a recording studio and catching up with everyone for the Any Dream Will Do recording. As this was three years after I was in Joseph, it was also wonderful to revisit a song that means so much to me as it was the first song I sang in my first professional show.

How was it being involved with Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical and recording for the film’s soundtrack?

This was such a special experience as it was my first film and I got to work with Emma Thompson, Lashana Lynch and Stephen Graham. It all happened during COVID, which made things even more unique – we had to audition and rehearse in masks, and then sequester in a hotel to form a ‘bubble’ so we could film without masks. Looking back now, it all seems so surreal!

Ellen Kane’s choreography was incredible. I loved performing the Bruce number on the spinning revolve and dancing on the tables in sparkly blazers. I also really enjoyed Chokey because I got to climb to the very top of the climbing frame. The fairground scene was another highlight as we got to go on the rides and basically just have fun!

Recording for the film’s soundtrack was exciting as it was my first time in a recording studio. I loved perfecting the songs and harmonies, and experiencing how everything comes together.

You are featured in CBBC’s new documentary series Stage Stars, which premiered earlier this month, what was it like filming for the show?

Filming for Stage Stars was really fun, and it was also interesting to see what goes into making a TV series. As the crew were at school for the whole year, filming quickly became part of school life, and we all got used to the cameras and activity around us. There was a real buzz around the school as we were excited for people to see how wonderful Tring Park is.

What was it like seeing the completed episodes for the first time and how does it feel being part of a new CBBC series?

Watching the episodes has really made me appreciate my school, teachers and fellow students even more. I feel incredibly lucky to have a scholarship and award that allow me to attend such a special school. The show really captures not only the brilliance of the talent, but also how supportive everyone is of each other. It was also interesting for me to see everything that goes on in the school – we’re so busy that we don’t always get to experience it all first-hand. As the filming took place over a year ago, I loved reliving the memories of playing Reno in Anything Goes.

Being part of the series has been a great experience, and I hope it encourages young performers to dream big and follow their passion!

How is it training at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts and was there anything that encouraged you to attend?

Tring Park is an amazing school with excellent training, and I’ve made such wonderful friends there. We have academic lessons in the morning, and then vocational classes, including multiple dance classes, acting and singing, in the afternoon. The days are long, but being surrounded by people who share the same passion every day is really special. We also get to perform in brilliant shows and meet industry professionals, which is great preparation for a future career in the performing arts.

As I’ve always loved performing, Tring was the obvious secondary school choice for me. I also really appreciate being able to combine performing arts training with A-levels. I’m very lucky that the school is close enough for me to be a day pupil, although I’d absolutely love to board!

Where does your love of performing come from and how did you get into it?

I’ve always loved performing, even from a very young age. There’s a video of me giving it my all in my pre-school nativity play when I was just two years old! I used to put on little shows at home and absolutely loved dressing up and entertaining everyone. From there, I began taking dance lessons, and later musical theatre classes, and my passion for performing has continued to grow ever since.

Do you have any favourite theatre shows to watch, and which would you like to see that you haven’t done so as yet?

I love so many shows, but especially Hamilton, SIX and Wicked. Two stand-out shows I’ve seen recently are Sunset Boulevard and Evita – Nicole Scherzinger and Rachel Zegler were both absolutely incredible and such an inspiration. I really wish I’d had the chance to see The Great Gatsby, and I’m gutted The Greatest Showman is already sold-out as I really wanted to watch some of my 13 Going on 30 and The Children’s Inquiry friends who are in it. On my must-see list are Paddington The Musical, The Hunger Games: On Stage, and Freaky Friday (especially since Andy Fickman is directing Freaky Friday!).

How do you like to spend your free time?

I don’t have a lot of free time as I finish school and training quite late every day and am also studying for my A-levels, but when I do, I love spending time with my friends, and taking my dog for walks in the woods near my house. I also enjoy watching musicals and films, listening to music, and being with my family.

What are you hoping 2026 brings for you, and do you have any projects coming up that you can tell us about?

I hope 2026 brings more exciting professional opportunities. I absolutely love theatre, but am also keen to grow my screen experience, whether in TV, film or another musical movie. The year will get off to an amazing start as I’ll be in Cape Town visiting my family as my dad is South African. They’re all so loud and fun, and we always have the best time when we’re together!

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