The Little White Thought

The Little White Thought is a play by British playwright and actor Miles Malleson (1888-1969).

Original text

This is a whimsical and introspective play first performed in 1915. This unique literary piece takes readers on a journey inside the mind of a man, where various personified thoughts, such as the Thought of Somebody Else's Wealth, the Thought of Beauty, and the Thought of the Girl He Loves, interact within a surreal, semi-circular chamber. The play delves into themes of love, beauty, and the eternal struggle between mundane concerns and higher ideals. Through its allegorical narrative, Malleson invites readers to reflect on the inner workings of the human mind, the nature of thoughts, and the spiritual growth that shapes our lives.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1920: Staged by Minna Freund with Paddly Pools in December, featuring her junior students.

Sources

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-White-Thought-Fantastic-Scrap/dp/B01MYCB2ZG

Greyvenstein, Walter 1988. The history and development of children's theatre in English in South Africa. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Johannesburg: Rand Afrikaans University.

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