Anne & Gilbert
Island performer Holly Perry debuts in lead role
The Musical [Photo by Louise Vessey]
Anne & Gilbert, The Musical returns for its 22nd season this spring with a milestone debut: Island performer Holly Perry will take on the role of Anne Shirley for the first time, wearing the original Anne dress created for the musical’s first season in 2005.
The 26-year-old Acadian performer from Prince County has been part of the cast since 2022, but 2026 marks her first season in the title role. The historic costume she will wear was designed for the show’s premiere at the Victoria Playhouse in Victoria-by-the-Sea, PEI, more than two decades ago, and hasn’t been worn since.
“It feels surreal,” says Perry. “To step into this role wearing the very dress that helped launch Anne & Gilbert is incredibly meaningful.”
The original costume reflects the character’s Island roots: simple, practical and earth-toned, with shades of green reminiscent of PEI fields and rust-coloured trim echoing the province’s soil. While inspired by late-19th-century fashion, the dress was designed for movement and performance rather than strict historical rigidity. This is, of course, much like Anne herself, who refuses to be constrained by convention.
Though Anne & Gilbert is often promoted as the love story between Anne and her childhood rival, the heart of the musical is Anne’s own journey—her determination, imagination and refusal to be diminished.
“Anne is often seen as a romantic figure, but she’s really about resilience,” praises Perry. “She faces rejection and bullying, but she doesn’t shrink herself. She confronts things head-on and stays true to what she believes is right.”
Raised in a francophone musical family in the Evangeline area of East Prince, Perry grew up surrounded by community theatre and local performance traditions. Her Acadian heritage stretches back generations on PEI, grounding her portrayal of Anne in a deeply local connection to place.
Featuring a 20-member cast and orchestra, Anne & Gilbert, The Musical runs from May 5 to October 26 at the Florence Simmons Performance Hall in Charlottetown.
Tickets are available online via anneandgilbert.com.