Little Women

The four March sisters – Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy – grow up during Christmas Eve, 1862, in Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, facing love, loss, and fortune's twists. This adaptation, first produced in 2022, is a classic story that is sure to delight audiences.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 100 pages
Publication date: 21 July 2022
Publisher: Nick Hern Books

Christmas Eve, 1862. With their father away on the frontline of the American Civil War, the four March sisters – Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy – journey into adulthood, each determined to pursue a life on their own terms. But growing up means contending with love and loss, as well as the myriad twists of fortune that shape a life.

Published in 1868, Louisa May Alcott's Little Women was an immediate critical and commercial success, and remains one of the best-loved novels of all time. This joyful and spirited adaptation was first produced at Pitlochry Festival Theatre and Watford Palace Theatre in 2022, directed by Brigid Larmour. An earlier version was staged at the Gate Theatre, Dublin, in 2011. It provides rich opportunities for any amateur company looking for an uplifting version of a classic story that's guaranteed to delight audiences.

The March sisters are four young women living in Concord, Massachusetts, during the Civil War. Meg is the oldest and most responsible, while Jo is the tomboyish and adventurous one. Beth is the gentle and kind-hearted sister, while Amy is the youngest and most headstrong. The sisters are close, but they also have their differences, which often lead to arguments and misunderstandings.

One of the main themes of the novel is the importance of family and the strength of sisterhood. The sisters support each other through thick and thin, and they are there for each other when times are tough. They also learn to appreciate the value of money and the importance of hard work, as they struggle to make ends meet during the war.

Another theme of the novel is the importance of education and the pursuit of one's dreams. The sisters are all educated, and they each pursue their own interests and passions. Meg becomes a writer, Jo becomes a teacher, Beth becomes a nurse, and Amy becomes a musician. The sisters learn that it is important to follow one's heart and to never give up on one's dreams, even when faced with obstacles and setbacks.

The novel also explores the complexities of love and relationships. Meg falls in love with John Brooke, a wealthy and charming young man, but their relationship is complicated by his family's disapproval and her own feelings of insecurity. Jo falls in love with Laurie Laurence, a young man from a neighboring family, but their relationship is also complicated by his family's wealth and status. Beth falls in love with Mr. March, the sisters' father, but their relationship is also complicated by his absence and his complicated past.

Overall, Little Women is a beautiful and inspiring novel that explores the joys and challenges of growing up and pursuing one's dreams. It is a timeless classic that has been loved by generations of readers, and it continues to resonate with modern audiences.

Dimension: 198 x 129 x 7 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781839041143
Edition number: stage version