7 minute read
DO YOU WANT TO KNOW A SECRET
Set to be a screen sensation, The Secret Garden, based on the classic children’s novel, is a muchloved Yorkshire story. With a stellar lineup of acting royalty, including multiaward-winning actors Colin Firth and Dame Julie Walters, Carolyn Nicoll caught up with cast and crew.
L et’s set the scene, The Secret Garden is the story of Mary Lennox (Dixie Egerickx), a 10-year-old girl, born in India to wealthy British parents and then sent to England when her mother and father sadly pass away. Life changes forever at her uncle’s home, Misselthwaite Manor on a remote Yorkshire country estate, as Mary, together with her cousin Colin (Edan Hayhurst), uncover family secrets and discover a magical secret garden.
Advertisement
No one can deny the breathtaking beauty of North Yorkshire’s sprawling moorland, historic properties and its heritage railway, so pick your popcorn (sweet, salted or both?), sit back and enjoy scenes caught on camera across this stunning part of the county. Look out for Duncombe Park, Helmsley Walled Garden, the North York Moors National Park, UNESCO World Heritage site Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, as well as the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, already a frequent favourite for film crews, as seen in Harry Potter, Dad’s Army and the recent Downton Abbey, amongst others. But what can audiences look forward to?
PART OF THE PLOT
MARC MUNDEN, DIRECTOR
I love filming in Yorkshire and have filmed two television pieces there before: National Treasure with Julie Walters and Robbie Coltrane (Harrogate, Leeds, Scarborough) and Utopia (Leeds, Harrogate, Halifax). The locations are incredibly adaptable. I’ve always loved the North York Moors and that is an essential part of the landscape of the film as Mary Lennox is shipped from her homeland of India to live with her uncle in England. This poor orphaned girl finds herself surrounded by a vast alien country and she asks the housekeeper Mrs Medlock (Dame Julie Walters) “Is that the sea?” as she travels over the moor with its heavy mist and strange muted colours, perfectly conjuring up that sense of awe she feels - frightening and beautiful. The hero of the film is the landscape in all its incredible diversity and uncanny natural beauty. We were determined that Yorkshire must feature in the film, the book is set there and there is a sense in which a ‘Yorkshire of the imagination’ permeates our culture, in a clear line from the Brontës to The Secret Garden, there are many links between Jane Eyre and ’The Secret Garden. We filmed in the county during an amazing summer of perpetual sunshine. It was inspiring to meet the people who run the wonderful hidden jewel of Helmsley Walled Garden. It provides therapeutic solace for those who work there, that sense of the restorative and rejuvenating powers of nature, exemplified in the story The Secret Garden. Fountains Abbey was another location where we created a ‘ruined temple’ section of our secret garden. I grew up in Yorkshire and love it dearly. The stunning landscapes of North Yorkshire still have a great hold When we saw the garden’s hot borders we knew we had to have them in the film. Mary and Dickon (Amir Wilson) run through the garden as all the flowers around them shoot up and bloom. We were blessed with great weather for the sequence. What you see in the film is digitally enhanced but it was inspired by our first sighting of Helmsley Walled Garden. Dixie Egerickx is a legend in the making. She is remarkable, intelligent and serious about acting, but also a lot of fun. All the children were very dedicated and into the work so it made it easy, contributing to a great atmosphere. Colin Firth is a warm and incisive collaborator, a brave actor full of ideas and unafraid to play tortured and grieving, the character of Archibald Craven the widower in the film. Julie Walters is funny and brilliant, the best
ROSIE ALISON, PRODUCER
actor of her generation. over me and I return for walking holidays on the North York Moors, where we filmed on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway for Mary’s journey to Yorkshire, then on the Roman Road near Goathland for her car journey to the house and on her first morning at ‘Misselthwaite’, as she goes out to explore, she sees over the great park plain, evocative of a remote Yorkshire setting. Making a film with children can really enhance the spirit of the shoot. Their excitement at filming was palpable and this lifted everyone’s mood. Dixie Egerickx is a remarkable girl, wise beyond her years and her piercing intelligence shines through in her performance. She completely captured Mary’s complexity, the complicated journey and goes from prickly loner to openhearted friend of Colin and Dickon. When she smiles, she lights up the screen.
Top to bottom: Dixie Egerickx as Mary in the new film. The beautifully manicured Helmsley Walled Garden.
Top: Rosie Alison and Colin Firth. Right: Dixie with Amir Wilson during filming. Below: Marc directs Dixie. The natural beauty of Helmsley Walled Garden.
© Colin Dilcock
DIXIE EGERICKX, ACTRESS
Mary is probably the ultimate anti-heroine of children’s literature, it feels a great privilege to portray her in this new adaptation and a big responsibility too, as Mary is a loved character from many people’s childhoods, making the task of playing her quite daunting! I was aware of The Secret Garden from a young age, as it was my mum’s favourite childhood book and she introduced me to it when I was very small. It is one of the first books I read on my own and even though written in 1911, I think the themes of loss, grief and rejuvenation mean just as much to people today as always. I had never visited Yorkshire before, but the countryside is beautiful and the people are lovely and friendly. It felt special that we were filming where so much of the original book was set. I stayed in the lovely market town of Helmsley, when the Tour de Yorkshire was racing through and I was able to stand at the edge of the road and cheer on all the cyclists. There was a real party atmosphere and it was so exciting. When filming, the paparazzi showed up in the middle of the Yorkshire countryside, but I don’t think they got much because they stood out a mile with their long lenses in the middle of nowhere so everyone just hid. Colin and Julie were really fun. It is a real privilege to have worked so closely with them and I learned so much. They are kind, funny and supportive people, as well as being incredible actors.
The Secret Garden a Sky Original, is in cinemas and on Sky Cinema from 23rd October
SECRET STAY
If you were asked to imagine the perfect English market town, then it’d probably look a lot like Helmsley! There’s the bustling market square, the dramatic castle ruins, the charming tea rooms, the inviting inns; all surrounded by mile after mile of the beautiful North York Moors. Enjoy a break in the picturesque market town and visit the, not so secret, walled garden.
SEE Step inside and discover Helmsley Walled Garden, built in 1759. Explore the five acre grounds, its double herbaceous hot border running the length of the garden, as seen in The Secret Garden film. Experience the tranquillity of the Garden of Contemplation, the beauty of the Clematis Garden showcasing over 100 different clematis varieties, the vegetable patch and edible flowers in the Kitchen Garden. It’s good enough to eat! helmsleywalledgarden.org.uk HIDDEN GEMS
LET US PREY
From raptors to owls, plus 300 stunning acres of woodland and parkland to stroll around, the National Centre for Birds of Prey is situated in the magnificent Duncombe Park estate (Misselthwaite Manor in The Secret Garden film). Nestled in the North York Moors National Park, see spectacular flying demonstrations from the largest collection of birds of prey in the north of England. ncbp.co.uk
TAKE TEA
Charming, traditional and fabulously quintessential, the Black Swan Tearoom, overlooking the town square in Helmsley, serves a delectable English Afternoon Tea which changes seasonally, making best use of the fresh, local produce. Choose from over 20 types of tea, alongside a great selection of coffees. You can stay over too in the centuries old coaching inn, turned beautiful boutique hotel. blackswan-helmsley.co.uk
CAPTIVATING CASTLE
Soaring above this tranquil town are the dramatic ruins of Helmsley Castle. With a 100 foot high tower and substantial medieval, Tudor and Victorian remains, it’s a history lover’s delight. There’s a fantastic visitors centre and plenty of regular activities throughout school holidays - perfect if you want to learn more about the dramatic history of this region. english-heritage.org.uk
