A Monster Calls: The Play

by Adam Peck, Patrick Ness (contributor), Sally Cookson

The playscript for the Old Vic production of A Monster Calls, based on the bestselling novel by Patrick Ness.

In this powerful new adaptation from visionary director Sally Cookson, the bestselling novel by Patrick Ness is brought to the stage to tell the stunning story of love, loss and courage anew. Conor has the same dream every night, ever since his mother first fell ill, ever since she started that treatments that don't quite seem to be working. But tonight is different. Tonight, when he wakes, there's a visitor at his window. It's ancient, elemental, a force of nature. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor. It wants the truth.

The final idea of the late, award-winning writer Siobhan Dowd, developed into an extraordinary and heartbreaking novel by Patrick Ness, and now adapted for an Old Vic production that brings the tale to a new audience.

Genres: Plays

137 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 11, 2024

Reviews

[Emma Bourne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I watched this on the UK tour in 2020, I remember vividly how contemporary and abstract it was in terms of staging and the tree/monster himself compared to how I pictured it in the original book, but it worked and I cried my eyes out from second row (definitely visible to cast lol) and it became one of my favourite plays back then. Reading it all these years and reminiscing on such a beautiful story and production and having the visuals all come back to me was a wonderful experience, atleast this time I could cry in the privacy on my own bedroom, and cry I did!

[august 🦇🩸 · Rating 4 out of 5]

sad and kind of abstract

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly heartbreaking

[Michael Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Conner struggles with coming to terms with losing his mother to her fight with cancer. A monster, an ancient yew tree comes to Conner and tells him three stories. One about an evil queen that isn’t evil, and a prince that is a savior and a murderer. One about an apothecary that extorts but also heals, and a parson who is wrong in thinking but kind hearted. And one about a man that is invisible socially but is lonelier when seen. The last story Conner must tell himself, revealing his inner truth. He wants his mom’s fight with cancer to be over even if it means losing her, he just wants it all to be over. It’s okay to be angry. “I didn’t come to heal your mother, I came to heal you,” the monster tells Conner.

[Maisie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an amazing play with a minimalistic set and ensemble which stay on stage throughout the action. Although written for children, it deals with difficult themes of loss and guilt. The ending made me cry, and the characters become so real in the mind. It sometimes made me think of A Christmas Carol. Would definitely recommend. Would be a great book to teach.

[Megan Carr · Rating 4 out of 5]

ouch💔

[Chris]

Quite hard going!

[Eilish Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

[Sam Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this pulls at the heart strings