The Secret Garden (Open Air Edition) - by Frances Hodgson Burnett (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Disregarded and disobedient, ten-year-old Mary Lennox is sent from India to Yorkshire and put into the care of an uncle she has never met.

At Misselthwaite Manor, a brokenhearted house full of secrets and strange noises, Mary discovers a garden as lost and neglected as she is. If she can learn to make friends with robins, grumpy gardeners and a boy who speaks to animals, Mary might be able to bring more than just the garden back to life...

The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett's tale about the magic of nature and the nature of magic, has been a beloved and quietly radical classic of children's literature since its publication in 1911. Holly Robinson and Anna Himali Howard's thrillingly adventurous adaptation was first performed at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, London, in 2024.

Review Quotes

"A beautifully crafted, thoughtfully updated new version of
the immortal children's novel... has a creative ebullience... a charming and
lovely production which will send you out with a tear in your eye and a smile
on your face." --Time Out

"A gorgeously modern, enchanted adaptation... feels like
something clicking satisfyingly into place... a story rich with joy and
celebration... Where the original novel showed Colin learning to stand in the
secret garden to earn the love of his absent father, Robinson writes a story
that renders this, rightfully, unnecessary. The production is all the more
magical for it... a must-see summer show for all ages. Marvelous, wise and
expertly updated, it is sublime." --The Stage

"This vivacious, subtly inventive new version puts the
microscope on Hodgson Burnett's classic to reveal an earthy enchantment. It
speaks potently to our environmentally frazzled times... It's a treat, and I'll
wager this garden won't be staying secret for long." --The Times

"A sheer delight... in terms of sheer loveliness and final
achievement, nothing beats this delightful new adaptation... Holly Robinson and
Anna Himali Howard have hit the jackpot here, maintaining all Hodgson Burnett's
key themes of a lonely and disagreeable orphan coming to life and finding
friendship in nature, but cleverly amplifying the Indian side of Mary Lennox's
story... book your tickets right away." --iNews

"An old-fashioned tale brought beautifully into the modern
age... does a fine job at retaining the charm of the novel while making it
appropriate for now... keeps adults and children alike emotionally hooked." --Telegraph

"Really quite enchanting... tackles the key themes head-on
with nuance and kindness without ever becoming dogmatic or sanctimonious about
it... a lovely, enriching show for families or adults alike." --WhatsOnStage

"Magical... has the potential to excite a new generation
about the wonders of the outside world... stays close to the original, while
making clever updates that feel authentic and right for the narrative, and more
palatable for a 2024 audience... a mystical, heartwarming and empowering
evening, with each member of the audience taking a bit of magic home with them."
--The Upcoming

"Terrific... a truly memorable experience... a brilliant
adaptation [that is] even punchier, crisper, funnier and more moving [than the
original]... profoundly relevant for us in 2024. This Secret Garden is very
much a play for today... undoubtedly the highlight of the summer. Catch it if
you can." --LondonTheatre1

"Lovely... a beautiful adaptation of the classic novel that
truly elevates its source material... a great show for all ages." --Broadway
World

About the Author

Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849-1924) was a British-American novelist and playwright. She is best known for the three children's novels Little Lord Fauntleroy (published in 1885-1886), A Little Princess (1905), and The Secret Garden (1911).

Holly Robinson is a Birmingham-born playwright now based in London. Her debut play soft animals was premiered at Soho Theatre, London, in 2019. Her adaptation (with Anna Himali Howard) of Frances Hodgson Burnett's novel The Secret Garden was staged at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in 2024.

Anna Himali Howard is a director, theatre-maker and dramaturg. She was a Creative Associate at the Gate Theatre and was an Associate Artist at Brixton House. Her adaptation (with Holly Robinson) of Frances Hodgson Burnett's novel The Secret Garden was staged at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in 2024.