FEATURED SHOW: The Secret Garden at the Barn Theatre, ★★★★★ reviews are in! (Plus, new videos!)

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UPDATED 2 April 2018: The Barn Theatre in Cirencester triumphantly flung open its doors this week with its inaugural production of The Secret Garden. Dominic Shaw’s fresh new actor-musician, folk-influence take on this Tony Award-winning family musical has now extended by two weeks until 28 April 2018 at this new theatrical destination in the heart of the Cotswolds. We’ve rounded up some of our favourite review quotes – plus new “Come to the Garden” videos – below…

Get all social media for The Secret Garden & its cast on www.stagefaves.com

After losing both parents to cholera in India, young Mary Lennox is sent to England to live with her hermit uncle, Archibald Craven. Inside his haunting secluded house, Mary meets his bedridden son, Colin, all alone with his mother’s death on his conscience. Everything changes when Mary decides to revive the beauty of her Aunt Lily’s overgrown secret garden.

The Secret Garden, based on the 1911 book by Frances Hodgson Burnett, has script and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Marsha Norman with a score by Lucy Simon. The musical originally premiered on Broadway in 1991, going on to win three Tony Awards.

The 12-strong cast of actor-musicians features Daniella Piper (as Mary), David Haydn (Archibald Craven), Jaimie Pruden (Lily Craven), Minal Patel (Neville Craven), Celeste De Veazey (Colin Craven), Jenny O Leary (Martha), and Alex James Ellison (Dickon). They’re joined in the ensemble by Sue Appleby, Steffan Rizzi, Jamie Ross, Celia Cruwys Finnigan and Ben Boskovic. The Barn Theatre production is directed by Dominic Shaw and designed by PJ McEvoy with musical supervision by John Quirk.

The Secret Garden runs from 16 March to 28 April 2018 at The Barn, 5 Beeches Road, Cirencester GL7 1BN. Performances are Tuesdays to Saturdays at 7.30pm, with Thursday matinees at 2.30pm, and Sunday matinees at 12.30pm and 5.30pm. Tickets are priced £14-£22. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE!

Review highlights

The Stage – ★★★★
Jeremy Brien: “An engaging musical reimagining that converts a much-loved children`s book into a delight for all ages.”
Musical Theatre Review – ★★★★
John Houseman: “Simon’s lilting music is lent huge energy by a cast of actor-musicians in full-on folk-rock mode.”
Cotswold Life – ★★★★★
Katie Jarvis: “I defy anyone, of almost any age, not to enjoy this… It’s all the elements together – musical ensemble included – that make a perfect whole.To me, the beauty of the production was never more apparent than during the interval, when cast members sat on stage – as if friends at a uni party – and sang. For the sheer utter pleasure of singing.”
TrendFem – ★★★★
Mary Nguyen: “Jenny O’Leary as the Yorkshire lass, Martha, is a laugh and tickle, yet her strong and brilliant vocal prowess sells itself – it is a voice not to miss… Alex James Ellison’s performance of fun-loving Dickon is persuasively playful — he knows how to raise the roof and get the audience’s feet stomping when needed.”
The Ocelot
Claire Dukes: “This is a heartfelt and feel-good production, and comes at the perfect time as we start Spring. It’s family-friendly, it boasts very strong and professional performances, and it is a fabulous introduction, and reboot, to the Barn Theatre.”..
Ought to Be Clowns
Ian Foster: “A lively and emotional actor-musician production of The Secret Garden marks a fantastic debut for the brand new Barn Theatre in the Cotswolds. Stirring and striking, undoubtedly heart-warming (in the end) but never mawkish, this is a seriously impressive production which suggests the future could be rosy indeed for the Barn Theatre.”
Cirencester Scene
Jan Sparrow: “Where Lucy Simon’s original score required a twenty-five piece orchestra, Dominic instead exploited the musical abilities of the cast, with instruments ranging from guitar and piano to accordion and cajon drum box, to rework it, producing an upbeat folk-rock vibe which kept the show moving apace. This contrasted perfectly with the haunting melodies of the ghost of Lily Craven, played by Jaimie Pruden, making her UK stage debut.”
SoGlos
Melissa Hamblett: “A contemporary twist on the classic novel, The Secret Garden perfectly blends heartbreaking ballads with uplifting folk-rock numbers, enveloping audiences in its flourishing tale of loss, healing and friendship.”
Wilts & Glos Standard
Charlotte Shepheard: “Bang up to date thanks to a talented ensemble of actor/musicians who bring a folk/rock energy to the show.”
created in Publicate

Come to the Garden

Are you following the Barn Theatre on social media? We’re captivated by the #ComeToTheGarden videos they’ve been sharing on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Here are a few. Be sure to follow them for more – plus tons of audience feedback on The Secret Garden.

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MyTheatreMates works with a select number of high-quality London and regional productions on Featured Content campaigns. If you'd like your show content featured on our website and social media channels, contact us.

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Featured Content
MyTheatreMates works with a select number of high-quality London and regional productions on Featured Content campaigns. If you'd like your show content featured on our website and social media channels, contact us.

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