Thursday 19th March 2026 at York Theatre Royal
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The Secret Garden, The Musical feels first and foremost like a celebration of actor-musicians from director John Doyle, telling a very condensed version of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s 1911 novel with plenty of feeling and a very theatrical core. That said, the minimalistic approach to staging elements leaves this show feeling closer to a staged concert than a fully-fledged musical.
Marsha Norman’s book and lyrics are beautifully theatrical and Lucy Simon’s music provides an impressive range of emotive ups and downs as we’re guided through the tale of Mary Lennox, Colin and the inhabitants of a house in permanent mourning.
See, poor Mary has been recently orphaned and deposited at the grand home of her uncle – a man distracted by the grief of being widowed and the premature grief of losing his sickly child. It’s a house openly declared haunted and it’s in those haunting, swelling musical moments that the show is at its best, full of foreboding and mystery and a tantalising promise of secrets set to be uncovered.
Estella Evans is Mary Lennox – a fiery young girl who is curious and lonely but also wise beyond her years and prone to the odd straight-talking moment of blunt truth. Dexter Pulling’s take on Colin is not nearly as tragic and whining as I recall the novel’s version, and it works well for such an abridged version of the tale, allowing happier times to land well for the lack of melodrama afforded the character early on.
Henry Jenkinson nails the emotional rawness of Colin’s father, offering a man utterly broken by the cards he’s been dealt – not least the horrible brother (André Refig) suspiciously keen to keep Colin under lock and key. Joanna Hickman is Lily, the ethereal, and dignified mother of Colin; gone but yet remaining to guide those left behind with powerful soaring songs inviting listeners to that not-so-secret garden.
Elizabeth Marsh is wonderful but pretty wasted as Mrs Medlock, the stoic housekeeper with impeccable stage presence and so much promise… Likewise, Steve Simmonds has some great moments as Ben the gardener but his role feels too clipped for my liking. And then there’s Dickon – a child not much older than Mary in the novel, but here a grown-up played with charm and warmth by Elliot Mackenzie, who also happens to boast one of the best voices in the company – a voice perfect for the folk quality given to his character’s songs.
The overall feeling of watching something not yet fully fledged remains for me though; despite the talented cast with their actor-musicianship seamlessly blending their instrument playing with their roles, it’s all quite static. The dialogue snippets are so fleeting and set design (David L Arsenault and Doyle are co-scenic designers) is so minimal and lacking in visual variety that I very much felt that I was watching a great staged concert. Yes, the tale itself is told with clarity through song and short scenes, but for me it feels like so much more could have been done to bring this story to life – maybe a garden of sorts, at the very least…
The Secret Garden, The Musical is at York Theatre Royal until April 4th 2026 – more information and tickets can be found here.
Always Time For Theatre 
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