As part of the National Gardening Week celebrations, Old Herbaceous is coming to RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Harrogate. Described as “Downton Abbey with gardening tips”, it is a one-man play – the humorous love story of a single-minded, yet gentle, man with a passion for plants – which has entranced audiences around the country over the last two years. Highly acclaimed performances by Giles Shenton at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the Royal Horticultural Society Arts Festival have led to a recording for BBC Radio 4 being planned for later this year.

Written by Alfred Shaughnessy, script editor and chief writer on Upstairs, Downstairs, Old Herbaceous is an acute and sometimes hilarious observation of relationships between the classes in a simpler age and is sprinkled with witticisms and epithets: “You can’t be angry for long… not in a garden”, “A garden is like life itself… full of good and evil”. The evening blossoms into tender humour as it unexpectedly twists into a quiet love story of sorts, much in the traditionally understated English style of the early 20th century. A delightful tale, beautifully told, it is a treat to watch and not just for garden lovers.

  • Old Herbaceous, RHS Harlow Carr, Thursday, May 3, 7pm. Tickets £12 adult, £8 child, £40 family, from Harrogate Theatre box office 01423-502116.