Blackpool Grand Theatre is marking International Women’s Day by shining the spotlight on the inspiring women who are bringing incredible live theatre and performance to the glorious Grand this year…

Celebrate International Women’s Day 2025 with The Grand and #AccelerateAction

Blackpool Grand is marking this year’s International Women’s Day by highlighting some of the truly talented women who will be bringing inspirational live productions to the theatre this year.

And what better way than to shout out loud about the cast and creatives of an exciting new stage adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s LITTLE WOMEN before it Marches into The Grand this month!

Saturday 8 March is this year’s International Women’s Day with the theme of #AccelerateAction and The Grand is taking this opportunity to rev up the applause for all the brilliant women who are contributing a dazzling and diverse collection of skills to the theatre world – from gifted writers, directors and creatives, to highly accomplished stage and technical crew, show producers, workshop practitioners, and the amazing cast of extraordinary female performers who will grace our stage in 2025.

Step into the captivating world of Little Women and meet the fabulously talented females breathing new life into Louisa May Alcott’s classic tale of sisterhood, courage and ambition at Blackpool Grand Theatre from Tuesday 25 March to Saturday 29 March.

Inspired by author Louisa May Alcott’s own journey into womanhood, Little Women is the story of the magnificent March sisters – tomboy Jo, beautiful Meg, sensitive Beth, and spoilt Amy – as they navigate the challenges of the Civil War era while forging unbreakable bonds of love and family. This beautiful new adaptation of the classic tale is a celebration of women and is filled with laugher, tears and a theatrical, heartwarming lifting of the spirits.

Little Women is as relevant today as it was at the time of its first release, proving that women can be bold, persistent, self-assured, and the heroes of their own story. Let’s look at just some of the kickass females behind this exciting adaptation of the famous female tale:

Louisa May Alcott – Author. Famed novelist Louisa May Alcott published her most popular work Little Women in 1868, which became an instant success and cemented Alcott as one of the foremost novelists of the 19th and early 20th century. Her works introduced readers to educated strong female heroines and her writing style greatly impacted American literature. Alcott also joined the women’s suffrage movement and would contribute to several publications throughout her life which promoted women’s rights. She was also the first woman to register to vote in Concord, Connecticut.

Anne Marie Casey – Stage Adaptation. Anne-Marie’s masterful new adaptation of the classic story of Little Women offers a captivating rendition that breathes new life into a cherished classic. Anne-Marie’s previous acclaimed adaptations also include the strong female-led stories Wuthering Heights and Tess. For television, her many credits include Miss Haversham, The Shockers, The Story of Lucy Gault – adapted from the novel by William Trevor, Wild Irish Girl and The Master.

Belinda Lang – Aunt March. Belinda is a highly respected stage and screen actress known for playing compelling women characters – from the matriarch Bill Porter in 2Point4 Children to Liza in Second Thoughts and series regular Mrs Clam in the Sister Boniface Mysteries. Belinda’s extensive stage work includes Ladies in Lavender, The Reluctant Debutante, Present Laughter, The Country Wife, School For Scandal, The Killing of Sister George and Mrs Klein.

Honeysuckle Weeks – Marmee. Honeysuckle is best known to ITV audiences as wartime heroine and MI5 operative Samantha Stewart in Foyle’s War. Her many theatre credits include Accolade, Calendar Girls, Absurd Person Singular and A Daughter’s A Daughter.

Grace Moloney – Jo. Grace wowed audiences as series regular Queen Agnes in the historical comedy drama The Great and the stunning female-led feature film Mary Queen of Scots. Her theatre credits include The Glass Piano, Lady Windermere’s Fan and The Country Girls for which she won Best Actress in The Stage Debut Awards.

International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. Significant activity is witnessed worldwide as groups come together to celebrate women’s achievements or rally for women’s equality. Marked annually on March 8th, International Women’s Day (IWD) is one of the most important days of the year to celebrate women’s achievements, raise awareness about women’s equality, lobby for accelerated gender parity and fundraise for female-focused charities.

‘women creatives are the pulse of inspiration’ – International Women’s Day.

More opportunities to experience the power of women in theatre throughout 2025 include the iconic one-woman tour-de-force Shirley Valentine starring Mina Anwar (The Thin Blue Line); an unforgettable Royal appointment with the Iron Lady versus The Queen in Moira Buffini’s fiercely funny, fly-on-the-wall comedy Handbagged; the Pink Ladies as you have never seen them before in an electrifying new production of Grease the Musical; one night only with husky-voiced singing superstar Elkie Brooks, and the thrilling theatrical premiere of Caroline Graham’s chilling Midsomer Murders: The Killing at Badger’s Drift. Girls really do have more fun…

International Women’s Day is also the day Blackpool Grand has chosen to officially announce an extra special Women’s Creative Workshop Day which will be held on Saturday 5 April in celebration of this year’s IWD theme and actions, which include – ‘promoting creative and artistic talent of women and girls’.

Murmurations will be delivered for women by local creative women in a relaxed and welcoming female only space. This open and inclusive free workshop will explore the fascinating themes of gathering through storytelling, folklore, traditional song, music and dance and the way these artforms have drawn women together in the North West over the years. Events throughout the day include an inclusive dance/movement workshop with the Artistic Director of LPM Dance Company, Helen Gould MBE; words and storytelling with writer Zowie Dischord and a song workshop with folk duo Sue Bousfield & Liz Moore of Scolds Bridle.

Don’t miss all the dazzling stage productions at Blackpool Grand Theatre this year brought to you by a whole team of talented and creative women and #AccelerateAction for positive change this International Women’s Day…

Anne Marie Casey’s stunning adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women starring Belinda Lang (2point4 Children, Sister Boniface Mysteries); Honeysuckle Weeks (Foyles War, Calendar Girls the Musical), Grace Molony (Country Girls, The Great) Jade Kennedy (Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World), Catherine Chalk (The Circle) and Imogen Elliott (Grantchester) is at Blackpool Grand Theatre from Tuesday 25 March to Saturday 29 March with matinee and evening performances.

Audio Described/BSL performance on Saturday 29 March at 2.30pm.

Tickets from £15 with concessions for 1894 Club members and Friends of The Grand. Group rates also available.

Visit blackpoolgrand.co.uk or call the box office on 01253 290190 for full show listings, bookings and information.

Murmurations – The FREE Women’s Creative Workshop Day in celebration of International Women’s Day will be held in the Grand Theatre STUDIO on Saturday 5 April from 10am to 2pm. Limited spaces available. Please contact ruthc@blackpoolgrand.co.uk for registration and further details.