Our reviewer Fiona went to Theatre Porto to watch The Secret Garden:

Last night, for their first public performance of The Secret Garden, Swallows Theatre Company delivered a beautiful production that showed both promise and passion – even if first-night nerves occasionally peeked through. Under the collaborative direction of a team of young creatives, every scene felt alive, finely tuned and deeply felt.

The mission statement of Swallows Theatre CIC, to foster ensemble-based theatrical creation, to develop artistic voices, and to offer accessible, high-quality theatre inclusive of all members, is clearly at the heart of what unfolded on that stage.

The Secret Garden: the story began with Mary Lennox, a young girl orphaned in India, arriving at her uncle’s gloomy estate in Yorkshire. She discovers a locked, neglected garden, and with the help of the kindly gardener Dickon, the housekeeper Martha, and her cousin Colin, she begins to nurture the garden back to life. As the garden flourishes, so do the spirits of Mary, Colin, and indeed the house itself – physical and emotional healing intertwined. Themes of loss, renewal, resilience, and the power of nature ran effectively through the narrative.

The production, written and directed by Zach Waddington, drew upon many quotes from Frances Hodgson Burnett’s original text, and resonated in the performance, reminding us of the restorative magic of love, hope and care.

The musical elements are an absolute delight. This must be credited to Michal Borowski, who composed the music; co-writing the lyrics with Zach Waddington. Together, they created pieces that were emotionally rich and appropriately expressive, whether in quieter, tender moments, or in fuller ensemble scenes. The transitions between spoken dialogue and song felt natural, never forced.

The ensemble collaboration is a real strength of the show. Rather than a single lead dominating, all cast were supported, listened to, and given space. Moments of duets, group choruses, movement and stillness all felt well balanced. Because of this, the emotional arcs (loss, wonder, grief, joy) were shared rather than isolated.

The cast’s work on accent was impressive. There was consistency in appropriate dialects, and that helped with immersion, and it never felt patchy or distracting.

The set, props, costumes, even lighting cues – all of these showed thought and attention to detail. Small touches (for example, the garden’s transformation, leaves, vines, changing colours) were subtle but powerful. The use of puppets was heart-warming and fun- credit to the puppet maker,  Shannon Lancashire, alumni and friend of the company.

Their collaborative model, consistent with Swallows Theatre’s mission of ensemble creation, showed in every act.

Of course, it being a first night, there were a few openings where pacing lagged – some lines delivered a little cautiously, perhaps missing a bit of projection or conviction, however this simply demonstrated the bond the cast have created with each other – with nodding reassurances or a quietly shared prompt. These moments were brief and did not detract from the overall momentum. Indeed, some of the slightly tentative moments added an authenticity: the sense that these people have something precious, fragile even, in front of them – which mirrored the themes of the piece.

This Secret Garden is a genuine triumph for this relatively new theatre company. Swallows Theatre CIC has delivered a show that is moving, well-crafted and alive. The musical direction of Michal and Zach, the clear artistic leadership of Zach, Mia, Max, the support roles of Eden and Evie, the attention to detail across ensemble and design, all contribute to something that, while still maturing, is well beyond the sum of its parts.

I look forward to future performances of this company, when confidence grows even more in moments of stillness and transition. This production already delivers magic; with time, it will soar even higher.