We sat down for an exclusive interview with Matilda Shapland to discuss ‘Little Women’.
This show runs from 11th-14th June at the Royal Academy of Music – Tickets here
Jo March is such a fiercely independent and complex character. What drew you to her, and how have you approached making her feel both timeless and personal?
What always draws me to Jo is how ahead of her time she has always been. She is a character who explores ideas of independence, gender and ambition which go beyond the societal restraints that existed at the time of Little Women. This makes it easy to bring her into today as these are still areas that, especially now, women are still fighting for. Jo is completely unapologetically herself in ways that both help and inhibit her and she has a stubbornness and a fear of change that I find relatable. I approached her through the idea that she champions honesty and will always say what she thinks which allows me to play sincerity and determination.
- Having played iconic roles as a child in productions like Les Misérables and Matilda the Musical, how does stepping into Jo in Little Women feel different at this stage in your career?
It feels entirely different as I have matured a lot creatively since then and this role allows me to explore that fully. As a child I had limited freedom as I was stepping into very established roles that had to be played in a specific way whereas here, I am more of a part of the process of creating Jo. I feel more confident in who I am as a performer and a creative which is such a cool thing to explore.
- Your background in English Literature seems like a perfect match for a story rooted in Little Women. Has your academic perspective influenced how you interpret Jo’s journey as a writer?
I share Jo’s love of stories which is lovely common ground to have. The escapism of Jo’s storytelling which is especially prevalent in the musical adaptation is what I love about literature, the way she gets lost and brings others with her into her own worlds is such an integral part to her and so fun to explore on stage. Her journey has its obstacles especially regarding her gender as it is hard for her to be taken seriously as a writer despite her skill. Her ability to overcome and power through these challenges without letting them dampen her determination is vital to her development in the story.
- You have experience across stage, screen, and musical performance. How do those different disciplines come together in shaping your portrayal of Jo in this production?
The main thing I have learnt from each different discipline is the amount of work that needs to be put in to playing a character like Jo. However, there is such a different style of acting that goes into turning this work into a performance whether you are on stage or screen. On stage you have to remember that you are sharing your emotions and performance with a huge room of people which requires a certain level of volume and expression not required on screen. This has been one of my main learning points over my year at the Academy and is something I am really working on mastering for playing Jo.
- This musical, with music by Jason Howland and lyrics by Mindi Dickstein, is known for its emotional depth. Is there a particular moment or song that resonates most strongly with you as a performer?
A particular moment for me is at the end of act one when Jo sings the song ‘Astonishing’ as she is about to go to New York to pursue her writing. She says the lyric ‘I may be small, but I’ve got giant plans to shine as brightly as the sun’. This lyric has always meant a lot to me as someone who stands at a whopping 5ft 2 and who has always had huge dreams however I think it speaks to the wider experience of living in a city trying to pursue something that so many people are so wonderful at. It is hard to find your place in such a busy industry so having Jo’s determination is an absolute blessing.
- From working with the National Youth Music Theatre to this production, collaboration seems central to your journey. What has it been like working with this creative team, and how have they shaped your Jo?
I am so grateful to the creative team on this production with Georgie Staight directing, Tara Young choreographing and Madeline Baron music directing. It is such a big deal for me to be surrounded entirely by female creatives, I find it so inspiring especially when exploring a musical such as Little Women which addresses so many challenges and moments of joy that make up womanhood. The process has been super collaborative with the cast being encouraged to make offers and find their own twists on these extraordinary characters. It has inspired me to want to be on a creative team one day as the atmosphere in the room and the support I have felt whilst building Jo has been incredible.