The cast of twelve #StageFaves helping to inaugurate Cirencester's new state-of-the-art Barn Theatre started rehearsing THE SECRET GARDEN in London. What happened when they arrived in Cirencester in the heart of the Cotswolds? How are the folk music traditions of the area seeping into their performance of this new actor-musician production? WATCH these two videos to witness how it's all coming together...
The Barn Theatre’s inaugural production of The Secret Garden, based on the 1911 book by Frances Hodgson Burnett, marks the culmination of three years’ renovation work at the 200-seat Cirencester venue. It's directed by Dominic Shaw and runs from 16 March to 15 April 2018, with a press performance on Monday 19 March - which will also see Perry O'Bree first-ever out-of-town #FirstNightTakeover for #StageFaves.
A powerful story about one small orphan girl shining hope into the desolate lives of her new-found relatives. Challenging, moving and inspiring for all ages.
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 has script and lyrics are 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 principal cast 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 cast arrive in Cirencester
Includes interviews with cast members Jamie Ross, Jamie Pruden, Stefan Rizzi and Alex James Ellison, as well as director Dominic Shaw, musical supervisor John Quirk and Barn artistic director Iwan Lewis.
In fine fiddle
Alex James Ellison, Daniella Piper and the cast perform Wick, which when reimagined for this cast of actor-musicians, sounds much different from any other version of The Secret Garden we've heard!
