It was a completely new departure for the Friends of Ventnor Botanic Garden to stage a theatrical production by Untied Artists of The Head Gardener at St Catherine’s Church.

As the seats filled with members, their friends, Isle of Wight College students and Ventnor residents as well as regulars from the Wellbeing Cafe and the Better Days Cafe, who benefitted from complimentary tickets thanks to the Friends ’charity, organisers knew they had done the right thing for the community.

After all, Untied Artists support two Islanders, Jake and Warren Oldershaw; Jake earns his living as a professional thespian while Warren is a full-time horticulturalist and garden designer.

Using song, scent (some gorgeous lavender wands were distributed), interactive graphics, lovely set building and comic costume construction, the brothers painted a picture of how Warren’s mental health reached all time lows but was rescued by working with plants.

It also cleverly interweaved other true stories of people who volunteer at community gardens in the Midlands, where the brothers, originally from the Isle of Wight, have been involved.

It all went to show that being around plants, in the open air, and working in communities, grows people’s mental wellbeing.

The audience hadn't know what to expect.

Chairman of the Friends, Val Pitts, said: “Unique is the only one word answer I can think of, but that doesn’t come anywhere near to doing justice to such an innovative, multi-faceted, thoroughly entertaining and thought-provoking performance exploring the healing power of gardening.”

Maggie, an audience member, said: “I was imagining it would be some sort of comedy about what people get up to in their gardens.

“It was a heartwarming and personal story of how the simple act of growing and creating something can be so good for our mental health and a road back from depression.

"The happy surprise at the end of the show was a moment that brought a tear to my eye.”