A classic children’s story will be brought to life in Durham’s Wharton Park this weekend.

Saturday 10th August will see a performance of The Secret Garden – based on the 1911 novel by Francis Hodgson Burnett – from the Chapterhouse Theatre Company.

In The Secret Garden, Mary Lennox – a sickly and unloved 10-year-old – is sent to live with her uncle in his isolated home in the Yorkshire countryside. She soon finds his strange old house and its grounds are full of all manner of secrets and mysteries.

Mary befriends a robin redbreast, meets magical creatures and is disturbed by strange cries that resound through the house at night. But one question obsesses her: where is her uncle’s secret garden and where has he buried the key to it?

The outdoor production of this tale in Wharton Park is guaranteed to enchant people of all ages.

Durham County Council’s principal parks and countryside ranger, Darryl Cox, said, “Wharton Park offers a wonderful setting for this production, and it really is an experience for all the family. What better way to enjoy the summer light nights and discover something new?”

The play will be staged on Saturday 10th August at 6.30 pm. Audience members will be able to grab their patch of the park from 5.30 pm, entering through the amphitheatre.

Tickets are priced at £16 for adults and £11 for children. Family tickets are also available, priced at £46 for a family of four.

You can book tickets online by going to http://www.durham.gov.uk/whartonparkevents. You can also book tickets by telephoning the Gala Theatre box office on 03000 266 600.

In addition, tickets can be booked through See Tickets by calling 0871 220 0260 or going to https://www.seetickets.com/event/the-secret-garden/wharton-park/1310945.

Free additional parking will be available for playgoers in the County Hall car park.

(The featured image shows a scene from the Chapterhouse Theatre Company’s production of The Secret Garden.)