Review: Little Women at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry



 Review: Little Women at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry

Adapted by Anne-Marie Casey | 22nd March 2025

I saw Little Women at the Belgrade Theatre yesterday, and I’ve been carrying it with me ever since.

This stage adaptation, lovingly crafted by Anne-Marie Casey, remains faithful to the heart of Louisa May Alcott’s novel — rich in sisterhood, sacrifice, and quiet strength — yet it sings with its own theatrical rhythm.

The set design was one of the production’s quiet triumphs. A series of birch trunks framed the stage throughout, lending a striking sense of place and an authentic feel of Civil War-era America. From the moment we entered the theatre, the atmosphere was set: old American songbook-style music played gently, immediately drawing us into the world of the March family. The lighting design cleverly shifted with the seasons, helping the audience track the passage of time with subtle, poetic clarity.

The period setting was further enriched by the haunting and heartfelt use of old American hymns and carols, sung in four-part harmony. A recurring motif of "Glory Hallelujah" added emotional depth, returning at key moments like a thread stitching time and memory together.

Grace Molony’s Jo was everything she should be: fierce, clever, and vulnerable. She was brilliantly matched by Cillian Lenaghan as Laurie, who brought a charming, boyish energy to the stage. He was the perfect foil — so full of life and affection that his rejection was genuinely moving. You could feel the heartbreak linger through the interval.

Jack Ashton portrayed both Brooke and Professor Bhaer with impressive sensitivity and distinction. The contrast between the two characters was clear, and each relationship — Brooke’s quiet steadiness and Bhaer’s gentle challenge — added depth to Jo’s emotional journey.

Jade Kennedy’s Meg was a revelation. She began as a modern ‘it’ girl — playful and poised — before gracefully embracing the quiet dignity of domestic life with Brooke. Her confrontation with Aunt March, where she boldly declares her love for John Brooke, was one of the most emotionally satisfying turning points of the production.

Catherine Chalk brought a tender, childlike quality to Beth, making her demise all the more heartbreaking. The scene was beautifully directed and performed with poignant restraint.
Imogen Elliott’s Amy was brattish in the best way — sharp, ambitious, and fully aware of her place in the world. The tension between her and Jo crackled with sibling friction underpinned by genuine affection.

Familiar faces Belinda Lang and Honeysuckle Weeks brought warmth and gravitas to the older generation. Lang, in particular, stood out as Aunt March — at once humorous and formidable — especially in her scenes with Jo. Her presence was a striking reminder of what society deemed a woman’s fate if she turned her back on love.

What truly struck me was how relevant this production felt. Though set in the 19th century, it spoke directly to 21st-century audiences — particularly through its exploration of gender, ambition, grief, and the roles we grow into (or out of). Bhaer’s speech to Jo about the peril of salacious pulp fiction could have easily been a polemic against the irresponsibility of modern social and print media.

The Belgrade Theatre continues to prove why it's a trusted springboard for national tours. This production deserves to travel far — but I’m so glad I saw it here first.

If you get the chance, go. Little Women isn’t just a nostalgic tale — it’s a timeless reflection on how love, loss, and loyalty shape who we become.

Tour Dates:

  • Blackpool Grand Theatre: 25–29 March 2025

  • Edinburgh Festival Theatre: 1–5 April 2025

  • The Lowry, Salford: 8–12 April 2025

  • Malvern Festival Theatre: 15–19 April 2025

  • Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne: 22–26 April 2025

  • Cardiff New Theatre: 29 April – 3 May 2025

  • Sheffield Lyceum Theatre: 6–10 May 2025

  • His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen: 13–17 May 2025

  • Birmingham Repertory Theatre: 20–24 May 2025

  • Richmond Theatre: 3–7 June 2025

  • Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House: 10–14 June 2025

  • Theatre Royal Plymouth: 17–21 June 2025

  • Darlington Hippodrome: 30 September – 4 October 2025

  • Theatre Royal, Bath: 28 October – 1 November 2025


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