The Barn Theatre, Southwick Community Centre. BN42 4TE
December 9, 10, 11, & 12 2026 : matinee on December 12
The Secret Garden
by Frances Hodgson Burnett – Jessica Swale’s adaptation
Directed by
Diane Robinson
Cast
Lauren Whedbee : Mary Lennox
Shalina Kearns : Martha
Zac Emerson : Dickon
David Peaty : Ben Weatherstaff
Ethan Dryer : Colin Craven
Hazel Starns : Mrs Medlock
Andy Bawden : Mr Craven & First Inspector
Dan Dryer : Mr Lennox & Dr Craven
Alison Finch : Mrs Lennox & Dr Bres
Andrea Jones : Mrs Phipps
Claire Withers : Ayah
Peter Joyce : Mr Pitcher & Second Inspector
Maggi Pierce : Ensemble
We are very pleased to introduce you to our lovely cast, some of whom will already be well known to you, as well as some newcomers.
“Unlock the door to a world where friendship grows, wonder breaks through, and a hidden garden changes everything.”
The year is 1910. In the heat and colour of India, Mary Lennox has grown up spoiled, solitary, and unloved. Then, in an instant, her world is broken open. Carried across the sea to England, she arrives at the brooding Misselthwaite Manor, where locked doors, whispering in corridors, and buried grief wait in the shadows.
In this striking staging of The Secret Garden, a cherished children’s classic blooms anew. Mary’s journey captures the experience of feeling like an outsider and being uprooted, while the story’s Indian influences celebrate diversity and multicultural identity.
At the story’s heart lies the garden itself: wild, untamed, and quietly powerful. There, among tangled branches and hidden life, nature works its slow magic, opening a path towards healing, acceptance, and joy.
Through puppetry, music, and evocative movement, an ensemble cast summons a world of mystery and wonder, breathing life into a timeless tale of transformation.
