The Chalk Garden

The Chalk Garden
First edition (Random House, 1956)
Written by	Enid Bagnold
Characters	Mrs St Maugham Miss Madrigal Olivia Maitland Laurel Judge
Date premiered	October 26, 1955
Place premiered	Ethel Barrymore Theatre New York City
Original language	English

The Chalk Garden is a play by Enid Bagnold that premiered on Broadway in 1955. The play tells the story of Mrs. St Maugham and her granddaughter Laurel, a disturbed child under the care of Miss Madrigal, a governess. The setting of the play was inspired by Bagnold's own garden at North End House in Rottingdean, near Brighton, Sussex, the former home of Sir Edward Burne-Jones. The work has since been revived numerous times internationally, including a film adaptation in 1964.

The Chalk Garden premiered on Broadway at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on October 26, 1955. Irene M. Selznick was the producer, and the designer for both sets and costumes was Cecil Beaton. Gladys Cooper (who was also in the 1971 revival) appeared as Mrs. St Maugham, with Siobhán McKenna as Miss Madrigal, Betsy von Furstenberg as Laurel, Fritz Weaver as Maitland and Marian Seldes as Olivia. The play received several Tony Award nominations including Best Play, Best Actress for both Cooper and McKenna, Best Featured Actor for Weaver, and Best Director for Albert Marre.

The Chalk Garden made its London debut at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in April 1956, directed by John Gielgud with Edith Evans as Mrs. St Maugham, Peggy Ashcroft as Miss Madrigal, Judith Stott as Laurel and Rachel Gurney as Olivia. In England, the play was censored by the Lord Chamberlain's office; an instance of the word "violated" was changed to "ravished".