Trinity Laban Opera : The Secret Garden

Composer:Stephen McNeff
Director :Kelly Robinson
Musical Director: Dominic Wheeler

At a meeting with Kelly Robinson, Director of Theatre Arts at the Banff Centre in Alberta, Canada; Stephen McNeff, composer and Dominic Wheeler conductor, it emerged that The Secret Garden was Stephen’s opera written for Banff in 1985, and that it had never been performed in the UK. “So let’s have the UK premiere” we said. This is a wonderful opportunity to forge a link with Banff – one of the world centres of creativity – and to work with Kelly, Stephen and Dominic on a co-production that will then go straight on to Banff.

Mary Lennox is a sickly, bad tempered child who is torn away from the loveless life she knows in India and is sent to live in bleak Misselthwaite Manor with her uncle, a grief-stricken widow. The Manor holds many secrets, one being a garden, shut up since the death of her aunt. Mary becomes intensely curious to find and explore this hidden place. With the help of new friends, Ben Weatherstaff, Martha and Dickon Sowerby, Mary discovers not only the garden, but also a cousin, hidden away from the world by his grieving father. Can Mary battle on against the tyrannical Housekeeper, Mrs Medlock, and bring life and happiness back to Misselthwaite Manor?