Tom’s Midnight Garden

Sutton Arts Theatre

26th March 2025

By Nigel Gambles

We missed seeing this production last week due to family commitments, but Im so glad we managed to get there this week.

I remember reading the book way back when I was a youngster and loved it, the thought of time travel absolutely appealing.

Tom’s Midnight Garden tells the tale of young Tom who, in the 1950s, has been sent to live with his aunt and uncle while his brother recovers from the measles. Through his letters to his brother, Tom begins to tell him about the mysterious garden that he discovers at night time and the children he meets there. At first it appears that the children in the garden can’t see Tom, that is, apart from Hetty, with the two soon becoming friends.

Finley Rowland is particularly engaging as Tom, inquisitive and adventurous in the new world he discovers, and full of childlike intrigue into the ways of time. Similarly, Gracie Reynolds shows admirable skill and depth in her portrayal of Hatty, at times happy in Tom’s company while at others bullied by her boisterous cousins and challenged by Abel the God-fearing gardener.

Throughout the performance a number of players act as the “voices of the house” which lends an eerie feeling to proceedings – a nice touch for a story with ghostly overtones. Equally, the narrative of letters between Tom and his brother Peter helps to set the scene and give more depth to the action on stage. The set is very clever, constantly changing from bedroom to living room and the fantastic garden

This truly is a terrific production capturing the magic of childhood, imagination and connections between generations.

Director Louise Farmer has done an amazing job directing an enthusiastic cast who totally deliver.

Full credit must be given to the stage hands who must have worked as hard as the cast with all the scenery moves.

I would also like to personally congratulate Evie Rice, who I know from her time with Script Youth Musical Theatre, on her debut in a non musical show well done Evie.