Tom’s Midnight Garden, Philippa Pearce’s classic tale of the boy who wakes up to a world of adventure when a mysterious grandfather clock strikes 13, has been a favourite of readers since it was first published over half a century ago.
Now, told for the first time through ballet, the story will be performed at Ely Cathedral this September, famously the setting of one of the novel’s most memorable scenes.
Produced by Sussex-based dance company Frankly Speaking Productions, this original open air production first toured the UK in 2021, where it achieved widespread acclaim for its magical retelling of one of Cambridgeshire’s most beloved stories.
The show is choreographed by Gareth Mole, who grew up locally in Doddington and achieved several world champion titles in Line Dancing before going on to train as a professional dancer.
“Tom’s Midnight Garden is an unforgettable story from so many of our childhoods,” says producer Frances Livesey. “It’s simply one of those stories we fall in love with again and again.
“The show is perfect for children of all ages, and for adults too. It’s a show designed to be loved regardless of your age. Moreover, the story, from its epic ascents to the ever-memorable scene where Tom and Hatty skate through the frozen Fens, almost seems made for ballet — and yet has never been told through dance before. So this feels like a really special project.”
The critically acclaimed piece of post-war literature tells the story of Tom Long, a young boy exiled to his aunt and uncle’s apartment while his brother recovers from measles. Stuck inside with only his aunt and uncle for company and no garden to play in, Tom fears that his holidays are doomed. However, as he lays awake at night and hears the old grandfather clock bizarrely strike thirteen, the gloomy building reveals a multitude of enchanting secrets full of magic and adventure.
Tom’s Midnight Garden has previously been adapted for film in the 1999 motion picture directed by Willard Carroll, as well as for TV in 1968, 1974 and 1988 by the BBC, and for the stage in 2001 by David Wood.
Dates and Times: Saturday 17th September — The Dean’s Garden, Ely Cathedral, Ely, CB7 4DL, 2pm and 4pm
Tickets available online at https://www.elycathedral.org/events/toms-midnight-garden
Press release from Frankly Speaking Productions

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