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The Secret Garden review – thoughtful adaptation takes root in the imagination
The Egg theatre in Bath marks its 20th anniversary with a puppetry adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic novel The Secret Garden, written by Tom Wentworth and directed by Stephanie Kempson. The production is praised for its craft and imaginative staging, with animal puppets moving through the audience and evocative design bringing the Yorkshire Moors to life, though the storytelling itself is criticised as choppy and disjointed.
Cat Rock's puppets, including a robin, an owl and a lamb, are singled out for their frayed, handmade charm, complemented by Kat Heath's design and Ben Osborn's music. However, the review finds fault with the short, TV-style scene structure and busy scene changes, which blur the emotional beats of Mary and Colin's stories; performances from Bilqees Khalid and Jack Hunter are likeable but softened, while Martin Bonger's supporting roles are highlighted as giving the show genuine dramatic depth.
In short
- The Egg, Bath stages puppetry version of The Secret Garden for its 20th anniversary
- Visually charming puppets and design praised, but storytelling feels choppy
- Martin Bonger's supporting performances singled out as most captivating
Explained simply
The Secret Garden is a beloved children's novel written by Frances Hodgson Burnett over a century ago, telling the story of an orphaned girl who discovers a hidden, neglected garden and transforms it alongside new friends. The story has become a classic, beloved for its themes of healing, growth and friendship, and has been adapted numerous times for stage and screen.
The Egg is an independent theatre in Bath that specialises in productions for younger audiences and families. The theatre is marking its 20th anniversary with a new puppetry adaptation of The Secret Garden, in which handmade animal puppets and theatrical design bring the novel's characters and settings to life.
Theatre companies often use significant anniversaries to commission fresh interpretations of beloved stories, creating new opportunities for audiences to engage with familiar works. Puppetry offers a distinctive artistic approach particularly suited to children's classics, using craft and imagination to bring stories to vivid theatrical life.