From Rooftop Gardens to Award Nominations: The Journey of Errol's Garden

When we first began developing Errol's Garden, I don't think any of us imagined that one day it would be nominated for Children's Audiobook of the Year at the 2026 Week Junior Book Awards.

The journey started with a simple meeting in a café.

We were sitting together in a café, (Jen Green, Caroline Wigmore and director Kate Golledge) drinking coffee and chatting, with a pile of children's books spread out between us. We weren’t there with anything too formal in mind - just looking for something that might spark the imagination and feel exciting to bring to the stage.

We passed books back and forth over coffee. There were plenty of lovely ideas, but one stood out almost immediately.

Errol's Garden by Gillian Hibbs had something special.

We were drawn to its warmth and optimism. Beneath the story of a boy creating a rooftop garden was a powerful message about community, environmental responsibility, a passion for plants and the idea that small actions can make a big difference. We left the café quietly excited, knowing we had found our story.

What followed was years of development, collaboration as we adapted the story for the stage. At Golden Toad Theatre, we're passionate about creating musical theatre that sparks curiosity, imagination and conversation, and Errol's Garden felt like the perfect fit. We believe in spending as much development time on work for children and families as we would for any other show. 

Then came the pandemic.

Like so many theatre companies, our plans were suddenly put on hold. The original 2020 tour was cancelled, and we had to rethink how to continue reaching young audiences. We created online activities, music videos and digital content inspired by the show. Looking back, that period taught us a great deal about resilience and creativity, and in Errol’s character arc, we leaned into the importance of trying again when something fails - something that resonated with all of us in the theatre industry when we wondered if and when theatres would reopen. Even when theatres were closed, the story of Errol's Garden kept growing.

As audiobooks became an increasingly popular way for children to experience stories, we wondered whether Errol's Garden could thrive in a purely audio format. Theatre is such a visual medium, but the heart of the story has always been its characters, music and imagination. The answer was yes.

The audiobook allowed us to introduce Errol and his rooftop garden to listeners far beyond the venues we could physically reach. Without sets or staging, every sound and performance had to work harder to build the world of the story.

Which is why the recent nomination for Children's Audiobook of the Year at the Week Junior Book Awards feels so special.

More than anything, it feels like recognition of everyone who has helped Errol's Garden grow over the years: our creative team, performers, venues, educators, funders, partners and, most importantly, the families and children who have embraced the story.

Errol's dream is not purely about plants; it's about growing communities and growing as people. What began as a picture book, discovered over coffee, became a stage musical, then an audiobook. And now, years after those first conversations, we're celebrating an award nomination. With the stage show also gearing up for another tour in 2027, the journey continues.

Whatever happens next, we're incredibly proud of how far Errol's Garden has come.

And, like Errol himself, we're already thinking about what we might grow next.