About the Play:

Secrets is a well-known children's novel, by renowned contemporary children's author, Jacqueline Wilson. This is the play version adapted for the stage by Vicky Ireland. Set within a dysfunctional family, Secrets tells the story of India and Treasure, two girls from very different walks of life, who meet by chance and become the best of friends. Inspired by Anne Frank, they write diaries, sharing their feelings and thoughts. But when secrets start jumping out of the page and into real life, Treasure and India find themselves in deep trouble.

Secrets tackles issues of class and social difference as two girls form an unlikely friendship. India lives in a large, luxurious house. She seems to have it all but her parents are so busy worrying about themselves, she thinks they've forgotten about her. Treasure's staying on the local estate with her wonderful Nan. She really doesn't want to go back to live with Mum, not while Mum's new man is there – he's got such a temper. A chance meeting sparks a great friendship between the girls. They both escape from their problems by writing diaries, inspired by their heroine, Anne Frank. When Treasure's step-father turns against her, she runs away from home to India's house. And then life gets a lot more complicated. A family show suitable for young actors as well as young audiences aged seven and up. The adapter, Vicky Ireland, has provided production notes to indicate how the play can be staged even with minimal resources – plus a lot of ingenuity!

Secrets was first staged in 2008 at Polka Children's Theatre in Wimbledon, London Borough of Merton and later toured throughout the UK.

Cast: 6 female, 1 male (doubling required, or large cast)

What people say:

"You'd have to be insensitive and iron-hearted not to be smiling through tears at the end of this powerful emotional rollercoaster." — The Stage

About the Authors:

Jacqueline Wilson is one of the UK's favourite authors, and her books are loved and cherished by young readers not only in the nation but all over the world. She has sold millions of books and in the UK alone the total stands at over 25 million! In 2002 Jacqueline was awarded the OBE for services to literacy in schools and from 2005 to 2007 she was the Children's Laureate. In 2008 she became Dame Jacqueline Wilson.

Vicky Ireland is one of the foremost theatre practitioners in the UK. She is a freelance Children's Theatre Director and Writer. In 2002 she was awarded the MBE medal in the Queen's Jubilee Birthday Honours list for services to children's drama, the first of its kind.