Review: London Children's Ballet, The Secret Garden ★★★★★

London Children’s Ballet (LCB) is definitely A Good Thing. Now celebrating its 30th anniversary, it was founded in 1994 as a charity, to give up to 50 children every year the chance to work towards a West End performance; and to the last person, these budding performers aged nine to 16, chosen through audition based solely on talent, deliver with the kind of professionalism you wish were present in every grown up company.

This year LCB brings back a spruced up revival of The Secret Garden, an adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s book, first seen in 2013. It tells the story of the young Mary, whose charmed life in colonial India comes to an abrupt end when her mother and ayah succumb to a cholera epidemic. She comes to England to live with her uncle Mr. Craven. In his large, draughty Yorkshire manor, she makes friends, meets her unhappy cousin Colin, and brings a neglected garden to life.

The young dancer given the Mary role takes on a huge responsibility: she’s on stage throughout the ballet’s 100 minutes, and as well as dancing, must master the mime required to tell the story. 12-year-old Constance Rauly, who returns to LCB after her debut last year, was entirely convincing as the irrepressible little girl who finds a purpose in her new life.

London Children's Ballet, The Secret Garden. Constance Rauly as Mary. Photo by ASH

Beyond the central character, the ballet offers plenty of opportunities for the entire cast to shine, and shine they do, not only in the solo roles, but in impeccably rehearsed ensemble numbers, under the direction this year of Jenna Lee.

Act I starts with Mary’s birthday party, with large groups of children – Mary’s attendants, party guests, debutantes and entertainers – all beautifully marshalled and at ease with Erico Montes’s choreography, which blends in gestures from Indian dance.

There is something particularly heart-warming in seeing nine-year-olds - and some of them appear young for their age - perform with total assurance and obvious enjoyment; as well, to spot talent in the older dancers. I was impressed with Anna Carey as Mary’s self-absorbed mother, who at 14-years-old exhibits mature technique and expressive, eloquent arms.

London Children's Ballet, The Secret Garden. Anna Carey as Mary's Mother. Photo by ASH

Ensemble dances in Act II, set in the Craven manor and its garden, include wafting winds, butterflies, roses and petals; but there is also solo work for Mary’s new friends, including the young maid Martha (Blandine Ploquin, 13), her brother Dickon, who becomes Mary’s friend and helper (the immensely engaging Joshua Moisey, 13) and cousin Colin, whom Mary entices out of his sick room and into the garden, danced by 13-year-old Fredric de Almeida Whitehouse, who had already caught the eye in last year’s performance. Ellie Henderson, 14, offered a very promising performance as The Robin.

London Children's Ballet, The Secret Garden. Ellie Henderson as The Robin. Photo by ASH

LCB’s production values are up to West End standards, with detailed sets and costumes and atmospheric lighting; and the ballet is performed to live music (hurrah!), with Artem Vassiliev’s score cogently played under Philip Hesketh’s baton.

In short, LCB’s The Secret Garden is a delightful show, one which I watched with a permanent smile on my face. What more could you ask for?