Little Sister, written by Alice Flynn and directed by Liam Rees, is a chilling and darkly comic exploration of grief, memory and Irish mythology. Drawing together true crime culture, sibling rivalry and Irish folklore, the production sustains a haunting atmosphere that keeps the audience on edge throughout.

Set two decades after the disappearance of a teenage girl in rural Ireland, the play opens when a bloodied woman appears at the family home on the anniversary of their mother’s death. From this moment, tension simmers steadily. The writing balances sharp humour with emotional weight, allowing the darker themes to land without becoming oppressive. Beneath the mystery lies a thoughtful examination of how people process trauma differently. Particularly, how our birth order in a family unit impacts our grief and sense of self.

The play boasted a strong female ensemble, Anna Coupé as WOMAN, Georgina Musgrave as HEATHER, Mimi Millmore as SALLY and a standout performance from Beca Barton as BRIDGET. The actors navigated the tension of fractured sisterhood with truth and comedy, allowing for flashes of intimacy beneath the conflict.

The thread of Irish mythology woven through the narrative adds depth, particularly in its resonance with the story of Oisín in Tír na nÓg. The notion of time lost, of returning irrevocably changed, and of the impossibility of reclaiming what has passed mirrors the emotional landscape of the sisters. This mythical undercurrent enriches the play’s exploration of womanhood and mental illness, lending it a haunting, otherworldly quality but in a contemporary setting.

If there is one limitation, it is spatial rather than artistic. The intensity and scale of the piece would be better suited to a larger playing space, allowing both the performers and audience to breathe.

Even so, Little Sister remains a tense, funny and moving piece of work. I do hope the show returns and more audiences get to share in its dark magic.

Sinéad, our London Fringe Theatre Network Co-ordinator and part of the box office team

Sinéad May Keegan

Sinéad works at the Cockpit as part of our box office team and as our London Fringe Theatre Network Co-ordinator. She is also an actor and a creative who has worked extensively on both stage and screen in the UK and Ireland.

LITTLE SISTER  played at The Glitch in February & March 2026
Writer, Alice Flynn.
Director, Liam Rees.
Producer, Iona Bremner.