A new production of Louisa May Alcott's classic Little Women heads the autumn season at York Theatre Royal (September 21-October 12). Adapted by Anne-Marie Casey, the production aims to offer a fresh take on the timeless coming-of-age classic.
Leading the cast as Jo March will be Freya Parks, who has recently starred in the BBC TV series This Town and ITV's Grace. Ainy Medina will play Meg, whose recent credits include ITV’s Archie. Helen Chong (Cassie and the Lights) is Amy. Beth will be played by Laura Soper, who has recently toured with hit comedy Pride and Prejudice* (*Sort Of). Local actress Kate Hampson (The Bay) will play Marmee. Nikhil Singh Rai (The Collaborator) is Laurie and Aunt March will be played by Caroline Gruber (Doctors, Mr Bates vs The Post Office).
Classic novels feature highly in the new season, with family summer show Around The World in 80 Days (July 8-August 3) followed by Little Women (September 21-October 12) and Pride and Prejudice (sort of) from November 4-9.
The literary theme continues with one of fiction’s most popular detectives, Ian Rankin’s Rebus takes to the stage in new play Rebus: A Game Called Malice (October 15-19, with Glasgow-born Gray O’Brien in the lead role. Co-written by Rankin himself, it finds Rebus at a dinner party in a stately home, at which guests are required by the hostess to play a murder mystery game.
Wonder Boy (October 29-Oct 2) is an inspiring story about the power of communication and is packed with humour, dazzling visuals and original music. It includes live creative captioning on stage throughout.
Dance features strongly, with London City Ballet's Resurgence (September 6-7) and Company Wayne McGregor in Autobiography (V102 and V103), on October 25-26. Everybody Dance Festival (November 12-13) will showcase dance in school and community settings.
One-nighters include An Evening with Simon Russell Beale (September 10), in which the Olivier award-winning actor delves into his life, and An Evening with Simon Armitage and Lyr (January 24).
The interactive show Dinosaur World Live (October 21-22) won an Olivier award as best family show.
The Studio will be taking on a new role as a cabaret club after a makeover and a name change to The Old Paint Shop (Ocober 5-26), which will feature regular cabaret nights of comedy, music, improv and burlesque by local artists.
The pantomime is Aladdin (December 3-January 5), with Robin Simpson and Paul Hawkyard returning as Dame and baddie. They’re joined by CBBC and Ceebies star Evie Pickerill, with BBC Let It Shine winner Sario Solomon in the title role.
More info and tickets here