École Carman Elementary production draws strong community support
Students at École Carman Elementary School brought a classic story to life last week, presenting The Secret Garden through the Missoula Children’s Theatre program.
Standard Photos by Mackenzie Gaultier Photography
Students from École Carman Elementary School bring The Secret Garden to life on stage at the Carman Collegiate theatre last week, including a lively ensemble of garden creatures such as geese and birds. The production featured 55 students through the Missoula Children’s Theatre program
The production featured 55 students, along with three assistant directors, an accompanist, a tour director, a tour actor and a lighting and sound technician. Over the course of the week, participants learned lines, songs and choreography before staging two performances at the Carman Collegiate theatre. More than 400 tickets were sold, helping to cover most of the production costs and reflecting strong community support.
Based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, this Missoula adaptation offers a lively and imaginative retelling of The Secret Garden, following Mary Lennox’s (Shelby Dales) journey from India to her uncle’s home in England. Along the way, she encounters a cast of colourful characters — including geese, fireflies, and moor folk — helping bring a sense of joy and playfulness to the story.
Mary, a lonely young girl sent to live with her reclusive uncle, Archibald Craven (Niko Lubkiwski), discovers a hidden, long-neglected garden on the estate. With the help of new friends — including Dickon (Harrison Norquay and her cousin Colin Craven (a.k.a. Aria McIntosh) — she begins restoring the space. As the garden comes back to life, so do the spirits of those around her, with the production highlighting themes of healing, friendship and renewal throughout the entire household.
Shelby Dales, who played the lead role of Mary Lennox, said stepping into the character came with both challenges and rewards.
“I played the lead role Mary Lennox. My character was rude, sarcastic and sad because her parents both passed away,” she said.
“I liked acting the part. It was a challenge even though my mom says I was a natural.”
Like many Missoula productions, the show was learned in just one week — something Shelby described as both demanding and enjoyable.
“Stressful, but the whole week was a lot of fun. The Missoula teachers were really nice and helpful,” she said, noting memorizing lines was the most difficult part.
Despite the pressure, she felt comfortable performing in front of a large audience.
“It was easy for me. I also compete in front of large crowds for dance and show horses,” she said.
Shelby said the story’s message resonated with her.
“The garden was dying because no one was looking after it — just like Colin was getting sick because he wasn’t being looked after,” she said. “I learned to care for everybody and to make sure they are healthy and strong.”
Her favourite moment came during the transformation scene.
Harrison, who played Dickon, said he connected closely with his character.
“He was happy and funny, and showed Mary that if you care for the earth, the earth will care for you,” he said.
“I think he resembled me. I thought he was funny and helpful.”
He said learning the production in such a short time was a challenge, particularly memorizing lines, but experience helped ease the pressure.
“The first three times I did Missoula I was scared, but now I’ve gotten used to it and it’s like a breeze. It is fun — I liked making people laugh,” he said.
Harrison said he was less nervous this year and appreciated the opportunity to perform.
“I actually wasn’t sure if I wanted to be a character this year and thought about being assistant director. But I am happy that I chose to act in the play as Dickon,” he said.
His favourite moment came early in the production.
“The madhouse scene at the beginning when Mary arrives and everyone was crazy busy,” he said.
The production also featured a lively ensemble of garden creatures, helping bring the hidden garden to life. Through choreographed movement and group songs, the performers visually showed the transformation of the garden from a neglected space into a vibrant one.
Heidi Russell, Missoula committee lead and chair of the advisory council for school leadership, said the program continues to be a highlight for the school community.
“It means we’re able to bring a truly unique and enriching experience back to our students and community,” she said. “This program goes far beyond a typical school play.”
Russell said the week-long residency challenges students to step outside their comfort zones.
“The kids take on a challenge, step outside their comfort zones, and create something truly special together. Watching their confidence grow day by day has been the best part,” she said.
She added that the program builds important life skills.
“They build confidence, teamwork, responsibility and resilience. It also creates a strong sense of belonging and accomplishment.”
One of the most noticeable improvements this year was the addition of microphones for the main cast.
“It greatly enhanced the sound quality in the theatre and made the performance even more enjoyable for the audience,” Russell said, adding the upgrade was made possible with support from Back on Cue.
“It also helped boost performers’ confidence.”
Community support, she said, remains essential to the program’s success.
“Missoula is a very expensive program, and it truly takes a village — from sponsors to volunteers to families — to make this happen,” she said. “Without that backing, an experience like this simply wouldn’t be possible.”
Russell said the production remains a personal favourite.
“It’s truly my favourite school event,” she said.
The Missoula Children’s Theatre program brings professional tour directors into communities for a week-long residency, culminating in a full-scale musical production involving local students — an experience that continues to leave a lasting impact both on stage and beyond.
