Based on the 1911 novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, the Tony Award winning musical The Secret Garden will run for six weeks at the Ambassadors Theatre it has been announced.
Featuring a script and lyrics by Marsha Norman and music by Grammy award-winner Lucy Simon, The Secret Garden makes a return to London over the summer season.
The production is directed by Rupert Hands and is a specially ‘Spring’ version of the show that has been adapted to 75 minutes by its creators to be performed by young people.
More than 2,000 children auditioned for The Secret Garden and 300 young people will be cast in the show.
Producer Matthew Chandler of P2P Productions said: “This is the European premiere of a new version of The Secret Garden, specially adapted to be performed with just 4 adult actors and 20 children. We have 21 teams child actors who will perform in rotation throughout the season. of It is a fantastic opportunity for all the youngsters involved.”
Orphaned while living in India, 10 year-old Mary Lennox returns to Yorkshire, England to live with her embittered, reclusive uncle Archibald, whom she has never met. There, the ill-tempered and lonely Mary meets Martha, a chambermaid, who tells her of a secret garden which belonged to her aunt Lily before she died. Mary’s search for the garden introduces her to a slew of other characters including Dickon (Martha’s brother), Ben (the head gardener), Neville (her other uncle), and a spirited robin that seems to be trying to talk to her.
Director Rupert Hands said: “I’m very much looking forward to working on this beautiful musical with such an exciting company of young actors. Giving young people the opportunity to work on great shows in great spaces is vital for the future of theatre.”
The creative team for the production also includes choreography by Jamie Neale and set and costume design by Lizzie Leech.
The Secret Garden will run at the Ambassadors Theatre from the 27th July to the 31st August. For more information and to book tickets visit: http://secretgardenldn.com/