The Secret Garden

The Secret Garden photos

The Secret Garden description

This production is perfect for children and just as satisfying for grown-ups, a story where nothing bad happens and there’s a beautiful happy ending. Love sits at the heart of the plot, and together with nature it heals the lives of everyone it touches.

Frances Hodgson Burnett’s ever-popular 1911 children’s book has been transformed into a musical, having previously been adapted a number of times for TV and film. Your venue is Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, an award-winning space surrounded by natural beauty, the perfect place to see a story that never loses its gentle power and sweet charm.

Mary Lennox’s life is about to change, and it’s magical

When Mary Lennox was sent to Misselthwaite Manor to live with her uncle she was an odd-looking little creature with her thin face and thin body, thin hair and cross expression. Born in India, Mary had always been sickly. Her dad worked long hours for the English Government, sickly himself most of the time. Mary’s mum was a famous beauty who cared more about parties than her child. Mary was left with an Ayah, a servant who was forced to keep her away from her parents, out of their sight.

Luckily for Mary, when her parents died in a cholera epidemic and she was sent to England, Misselthwaite Manor changed her life. The happier Mary became, the happier the whole household became, and the ending is joyful.

This is the ideal children’s story, told as a musical with wonderful songs in an outdoor setting so gorgeous you’ll remember the experience forever. Tunes like Get Up Miss Mary, Other Little Girls, Misselthwaite Hall, The Secret Garden, Give It a Try, Lillian, Nightfolk, The Little Rajah, Roses, Dai and I, and That's Spring will uplift you and stick in your mind for ages afterwards.

A fresh new adaptation

Frances Hodgson Burnett’s magical story has been adapted to create a fresh new musical version by Holly Robinson (Soft Animals, Soho Theatre) and Anna Himali Howard (Graceland, Royal Court; Orpheus, Opera North). Originally produced for the London Fringe in 1987 and again in 1993, it turned up Off-Broadway in 2016, and again in Houston Texas during 2017.

The book and Lyrics come from Marsha Norman and the music from Lucy Simon. The production is Directed by Anna Himali Howard and the creative team includes Tingying Dong the Sound Designer, Polly Jerrold the Casting Director, and Jai Morjaria the Lighting Designer. Hana Pascal Keegan is Associate Director, Khadija Raza is the Costume Designer and Leslie Travers is the Set Designer.

Playing at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre (venue info)

Performance Times for The Secret Garden