New Production reveals darker side to The Secret Garden

A new adaptation of a popular book is set to take to the stage at the Galtres Centre in Easingwold for one night only this Autumn.

Pupils from Cundall Manor School will be taking to the stage to perform ‘The Secret Garden’ by Frances Hodgson Burnett and adapted by Jessica Swale.

The production will be performed by Year 9 and 10 pupils from the nearby school at the 200-seat theatre on Thursday 24 November at 7pm.

The production promises to be a darker representation of the classic story involving an orphaned aristocratic girl returning to Yorkshire from the Indian Raj. Set in 1910, the Edwardian tale sees Mary on her way to England to live with her distant Uncle in Misselthwaite Manor on the dark and unfamiliar Moors.

As the audience will quickly discover, Misselthwaite is no place for children. Full of dark corners and strange night-time noises, Mary is certain there is more to Misselthwaite than meets the eye.

Will Mary uncover the source of the cries in the night? And will her curiosity lead her to solve the greatest mystery of Misselthwaite, the legend of the Secret Garden?

The performance will be directed by Miss Vile, Head of Drama at Cundall Manor School. She said: “The upper school performance is one of the highlights of the year.

“This year we are taking on a classic story and allowing the performance the opportunity to grow into a darker, more grown-up story.”

Tickets are free and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis on the night. To find out more about the production or the next open morning, contact the school on 01423 360 200.