London Children's Ballet, The Secret Garden, Peacock Theatre
Charming and thoroughly professional, the young dancers of London Children's Ballet return to the Peacock Theatre with The Secret Garden
London Children's Ballet, The Secret Garden. Photo by ASH
Don't let the name mislead you: the dancers of London Children's Ballet may be young (aged 9 to 16), but they offer thoroughly committed and professional performances. Don't even dream of making allowances for age and whatever else. They don't need you to.
London Children's Ballet is a unique organisation: founded in 1994, it’s a charity, which every year gives up to 50 children the chance to work towards a West End performance.
Hopefuls audition and the successful ones are chosen on the basis of talent only, regardless of height, shape or income. They are given free training, and the whole experience culminates in a live performance on a real theatre stage, where all aspects of production are up to West End standards.
Judging by past performances – Culture Whisper was enchanted by last year's Snow White and even more so by Anne of Green Gables in 2022 – the coming performances by London Children's Ballet will be unmissable. This year, marking the centenary of author Frances Hodgson Burnett's death, it will present a revival of its 2013 production of The Secret Garden.
London Children's Ballet, The Secret Garden. Photo by ASH
The plot centres on the orphan Mary Lennox, who comes to live in her uncle Mr Craven's vast, daunting mansion on the edge of the moors. There she finds a walled garden, overgrown and in ruins. With the help of her maid's brother, Dickon, and despite the hindrances posed by her cousin Colin, who's prone to terrifying tantrums, Mary finds the key to the forbidden garden and there the children discover that their imaginations have the power to transform lives.
With its artistic director Ruth Brill on maternity leave, this year London Children's Ballet is led by Jenna Lee, the choreographer of Anne of Green Gables. The choreographer of the original 2013 version of The Secret Garden, returns to revise the piece, which is set to music by the award-winning composer Artem Vassiliev.
London Children's Ballet counts among its famous alumni Anna Rose O'Sullivan, now a principal with The Royal Ballet, James Streeter, First Soloist with English National Ballet, and choreographers Jenna Lee and Arielle Smith, to mention but a few. So, another enticing aspect of watching The Secret Garden will be talent-spotting: who, among these 50 talented children, are the stars of the future?
London Children's Ballet is a unique organisation: founded in 1994, it’s a charity, which every year gives up to 50 children the chance to work towards a West End performance.
Hopefuls audition and the successful ones are chosen on the basis of talent only, regardless of height, shape or income. They are given free training, and the whole experience culminates in a live performance on a real theatre stage, where all aspects of production are up to West End standards.
Judging by past performances – Culture Whisper was enchanted by last year's Snow White and even more so by Anne of Green Gables in 2022 – the coming performances by London Children's Ballet will be unmissable. This year, marking the centenary of author Frances Hodgson Burnett's death, it will present a revival of its 2013 production of The Secret Garden.
London Children's Ballet, The Secret Garden. Photo by ASH
The plot centres on the orphan Mary Lennox, who comes to live in her uncle Mr Craven's vast, daunting mansion on the edge of the moors. There she finds a walled garden, overgrown and in ruins. With the help of her maid's brother, Dickon, and despite the hindrances posed by her cousin Colin, who's prone to terrifying tantrums, Mary finds the key to the forbidden garden and there the children discover that their imaginations have the power to transform lives.
With its artistic director Ruth Brill on maternity leave, this year London Children's Ballet is led by Jenna Lee, the choreographer of Anne of Green Gables. The choreographer of the original 2013 version of The Secret Garden, returns to revise the piece, which is set to music by the award-winning composer Artem Vassiliev.
London Children's Ballet counts among its famous alumni Anna Rose O'Sullivan, now a principal with The Royal Ballet, James Streeter, First Soloist with English National Ballet, and choreographers Jenna Lee and Arielle Smith, to mention but a few. So, another enticing aspect of watching The Secret Garden will be talent-spotting: who, among these 50 talented children, are the stars of the future?
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| What | London Children's Ballet, The Secret Garden, Peacock Theatre |
| Where | Peacock Theatre, Portugal Street, London, WC2A 2HT | MAP |
| Nearest tube | Holborn (underground) |
| When |
04 Jul 24 – 07 Jul 24, Thu & Fri at 19:00, Sat at 13:30 & 17:30, Sun at 12:30 & 16:30. Dur.: one hour 40 mins inc one interval |
| Price | £18-£55 |
| Website | Click here to book |