Little Women at the Festival Theatre Edinburgh

Period dramas can often appear on the surface to be buttoned up and formal.

But there's no such thing in Anne-Marie Casey's spirited retelling of Louisa May Alcott's classic tale.

As you can see from the picture, Jo March and her best friend Laurie have a wild time of it, and actors Grace Molony and Cillian Lenaghan throw themselves wholeheartedly into the story of family, friendship and forgiveness.

Based on Alcott's own life, Little Women charts the ups and downs of four sisters, their mother and their aunt, all of them, apart from sickly Beth, strong women seeking their own identities.

As a fan of the BBC drama series Foyle's War, it was a surprise to see Foyle's driver Honeysuckle Weeks as the matriarchal but not a little care worn mother of the girls, though she is not half as commanding as Aunt March, played with great aplomb by Belinda Lang, though even her booming voice, like everyone else's in the cast, was sometimes difficult to hear. Not so the carols and hymns which heralded the ending of each scene – beautifully arranged and sung.

Composer and sound designer Matthew Bugg makes an impact throughout the show, from the opening gunfire of America's Civil War to its music, and Mike Robertson makes sure the production is beautifully lit. I did have some difficulty, however, with Ruari Murchison's set. With the interior of the March's house set amid trees and snowballs being thrown across the dining table, it was just a step too far for my imagination.

Image: Nobby Clark

Tue, 1st April 2025 to Sat, 5th April 2025: Festival Theatre, Edinburgh

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