The Secret Garden

The Secret Garden

Regent's Park Open Air Theatre

3.3/5 based on 3 reviews (read reviews)
  • Opens: Saturday, 15 June 2024 -
    Booking until: Saturday, 20 July 2024
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The Secret Garden photos
The Secret Garden
The Secret Garden description

It dates back to 1911 but this beautiful children’s story has never lost its appeal, adapted for TV, film, and for the stage many times. It takes place in a beautiful place where magic meets nature and nature meets magic, and it’s being staged in the open air. Perfect!

Meet Mary, whose life is about to change

Poor little Mary has endured an unhappy childhood in India, ignored by her rich parents and left in the care of servants who spoiled her. When her mum and dad die in a cholera epidemic, the ten year old is sent to England to stay with an uncle she’s never met.

At first a sad, sickly, cross little person, her life at spooky Misselthwaite Manor in remote Yorkshire slowly changes. When she finds a neglected garden going wild behind a mysterious door, she’s fascinated. In the garden Mary slowly learns how to be happy, making friends with the birds, the animals, the grumpy gardener and the boy who talks to the animals. As the secret garden comes back to life, so does Mary.

As you can imagine Regent’s Park is the perfect venue for the musical, with the audience surrounded by flowers, birdsong and greenery.

A much-loved children’s story that never ages

This time around the musical of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s magical story has been adapted to create a fresh new version by Holly Robinson (Soft Animals, Soho Theatre) and Anna Himali Howard (Graceland, Royal Court; Orpheus, Opera North).

The musical was originally produced for the London Fringe in 1987 and again in 1993, appeared Off-Broadway in 2016, in Houston Texas in 2017. The show tunes include 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.

A top class creative team

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 the Associate Director, Khadija Raza is the Costume Designer and Leslie Travers is the Set Designer.

Playing at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre

Regent's Park, London, NW1 4NU GB (venue info)

Regent's Park Open Air Theatre Directions

Age restrictions

10+, children under the age of 4 will not be admitted.

Performance Times
Mon 11:00 14:00 -
Tue 14:00 17:00 20:00
Wed 14:00 17:00 20:00
Thu - - -
Fri 12:00 15:30 -
Sat 11:00 - -
Sun - - -