Review: The Secret Garden

This is a wonderful adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett's brilliant novel of the same name. It is a timely reminder of the powerful life-giving strength of nature and how connecting with the outdoors can be so rehabilitating. I am only sorry that I didn't see the original production in Scotland's Theatre in the Hills at The Pitlochry Festival Theatre.

Artistic director Elizabeth Newman created this adaptation for the summer 2023 season in the Pitlochry Amphitheatre which reopened in 2021. Ben Occhipinti's production was well received and offers a glimpse into how the play can be staged in schools. A cast of eight performers were used in this premiere, but Newman suggests in her cast list notes that the play can be performed by ‘five actors with different doubling, or far more actors’. This flexibility in cast numbers would surely make this a very inviting project for any drama or theatre department or company.

‘Flexible’ really is the key word with this adaptation as it is a play that could work with a range of age groups. It is gentle enough and makes use of puppetry and music for use with/for younger casts and audiences, whilst the darker elements of Mr Craven's grief and Colin's banishment mean that there is a depth that prevent this from being simply aimed at primary aged pupils.

It is the simplicity of the storytelling that makes this such a great adaptation. Newman's decision to cast ‘Robin’ as the narrator is inspired, perhaps by the role that the red breasted bird takes in the original novel. Hodgson Burnett spoke openly about having conversations with a robin who seemed to talk back to her when she was writing the original novel. How apt then that the character in the novel who ‘shows the way’ should link the story together providing narration as the characters slowly move towards the outdoors.

There is also a sense of magic throughout and designers will be faced with the challenge of seeing Mrs Craven's roses blossom back to life after the chanting moment and creating a garden of wonder and hope. The length of this script (two acts of roughly 45 minutes each) also make this an attractive choice. It could make for a wonderful open air summer production or one where the outdoors could be bought in. A great addition to any collection.