Hetty spends her earlier life as a foster child under the care of Peg and John Cotton who she knows as her mother and her father, and grows close to their biological son, Jem.

One day, she discovers a circus, where she meets Madame Adeline, whom she believes to be her mother because of her bright red hair, which is very similar to Hetty's own.

Hetty finds her time in the hospital miserable and oppressive, and often rebels or otherwise talks back in an environment where she's expected to be meek and obedient.

Hetty once again runs away but stumbles into a bad district where she is nearly kidnapped by a sinister man until an older girl who sells flowers named Sissy saves her.

Sissy takes Hetty to her home, where she meets her terribly ill sister, Lil, and her drunkard father.

After asking her questions, Sarah Smith reveals that she is a new benefactor for the hospital and that she recognises Hetty as the girl who has run away but praises her story-telling abilities.

Sissy leaves and Sarah takes Hetty back to the hospital after buying her ink and a book as a treat to record her tale.

[2][3][4] Film locations for the TV adaption are entirely in the county of Kent and include Cobham Hall School for girls in Cobham, Kent doubling as an orphanage, Belmont House and Gardens in Faversham doubling as Calendar Hall, Maidstone TV Studios to build various sets, including classrooms, the kitchen and a library and The Historic Dockyard Chatham which provided several locations to stand in for Victorian London including the streets around the Ropery, Tarred Yarn Store, Officer's Terrace and Admiral's Offices.

[9] The show was adapted by Emma Reeves and directed by Sally Cookson with Phoebe Thomas in the title role.

A revival of the show saw another West End run at the Duke of York's Theatre in summer of 2015[10] followed by a 2015-16 UK tour, including a residence over Christmas at The Lowry in Manchester.