Present day York meets 1860s Massachusetts – as a city theatre gears up for its autumn season.
Yorkshire actress Kate Hampson was spotted in York Museum Gardens recently in full period costume.
It was for a photoshoot ahead of the upcoming production of Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel Little Women – which will open the autumn season at York Theatre Royal.
Little Women is at York Theatre Royal Saturday 21 September to Saturday 12 October 2024.
The story has been adapted by Anne-Marie Casey, and directed by the theatre’s creative director Juliet Forster – who’s previous productions at York Theatre Royal include Around the World in 80 Days-ish and Sovereign.
Kate Hampson, who now lives in York, is returning to the Theatre Royal stage to play Marmee – following her starring role as The Coppergate Woman in the 2022 community production.
Her other stage and screen roles include Mother/Mrs Perks in The Railway Children at Hull Truck and ITV drama The Bay.
The cast for Little Women also includes Jack Ashton, best known as the Rev Tom Hereward in BBC’s Call the Midwife.
YorkMix chatted with Kate to find out more about returning to York Theatre Royal, the fresh take on a beloved classic, and what York audiences are like.
Tickets for Little Women start from £15 and are available via the York Theatre Royal website.
Q&A with Kate Hampson
How does it feel to be returning to York Theatre Royal after starring in The Coppergate Woman?
It feels really brilliant and special to be back at a theatre I love – and a theatre that I can walk to! I had such an amazing time doing The Coppergate Woman with a community cast, it was a really special show to be a part of. York Theatre Royal is such a gorgeous theatre and it just feels wonderful to be back, and with a new cast who I’m really excited to be working with.
How does it feel bringing an iconic character like Marmee to life in such a beloved story like Little Women?
Daunting! But really exciting to put my own spin on it. It’s one of those iconic roles that anyone who loves Little Women knows – and it’s about being true to that and paying homage, and at the same time putting a fresh perspective on it. I’m really looking forward to discovering who she is, or who my version of her is, and how she relates to the characters in the play – particularly her four daughters.
This new production of Little Women is described as a retelling and a fresh new take on the classic – why do you think this story still resonates with people today?
Because it’s about family, and it’s about love, and purpose, and good times, and hardship, and trials and tribulations – everything about the human experience. I think it’s important to keep telling these stories, but to move with the times as well, and to keep them fresh. Particularly for young women – I have a 14 year old daughter and I want it to resonate with her, I want her to see herself in those characters. Even though the 1860s was a long time ago, we still have the same concerns, and what we do to get through the difficult times and how we celebrate the joys. You need it to be able to connect with a younger audience – it does feel quite poignant having a daughter of a similar age to the girls in the play.
What are you most looking forward to, both with the rehearsal process and then the performances?
I can’t wait for the rehearsal process – as an actress, one of my favourite parts of any theatre job is that devising and creative part. There’s nothing I don’t like, from the table read to finding new things, to discovering the way different people work. I can’t wait to work with Juliet (Forster) again, she’s fantastic. I think what I like most about working in theatre is the collaboration aspect of it, and the team that you create.
What are York audiences like – are you excited to be performing for a York audience again?
Definitely, York audiences are absolutely great. Little Women is such a well recognised story, and there was the brilliant new film of it not long ago, so hopefully that will entice people into coming to see it. It obviously has its very emotional moments, but it’s a feel-good show. I think there’s something very comforting about it, and I’m looking forward to sharing it with York audiences. It’s going to be a really beautiful show, so please come along and see it!