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A Monster Calls: The Play
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.
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.
- GenresPlaysDramaYoung Adult
137 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 5, 2018
8 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
January 2, 2019
[Review copy send by Walker Books]
It's pretty similar to the book, which means it's bloody brilliant!
I am extremely curious to see how it works on stage with the ENSEMBLE forming the scene and how THE MONSTER is actually played.
One day.
Also, I cried almost as much as I did in the book and Ness' note at the beginning made me cry even more.
I love this story.
[clik here for Instagram post]
It's pretty similar to the book, which means it's bloody brilliant!
I am extremely curious to see how it works on stage with the ENSEMBLE forming the scene and how THE MONSTER is actually played.
One day.
Also, I cried almost as much as I did in the book and Ness' note at the beginning made me cry even more.
I love this story.
[clik here for Instagram post]
April 28, 2023
ITS SO SAD 😭
February 6, 2023
4/5 Stars: ‘The Monster Calls: The Play’ by Sally Cookson, Adam Peck and The Company.
→ Age Range: Young Adult.
→ Genre: Contemporary, Magical Realism.
→ Book Type: Play.
Favourite Quote: ‘Your mind will believe comforting lies while also knowing the painful truths that make those lies necessary.’
In-depth Rating:
→ Plot: ★★★★
→ Character Development: ★★★★
→ Setting: ★★★★
→ Entertainment Level: ★★★★★
→ Writing: ★★★★
→ Art (If Applicable): N/A.
General Comments: A poignant tribute to the life and talent of Siobhan Dowd - a nuanced tale that draws on elements of classic horror stories to delve into the terrifying terrain of loss, fear and grief. This stunning Old Vic production hits so many emotional notes; it is a timely production to stream. The play interlinks the make-believe and the painfully real (with the ensemble building ambience). It is an inventive piece of theatre, the sheer emotional potency displayed astounds. The devised plot and its nature sometimes misfires, with what seems like an overabundance of ideas losing oompfh.
Time Read: Three Days.
→ Audiobook: No.
→ Audiobook Narrator: -
Trigger Warnings:
→ Nightmares.
→ Bullying.
→ Terminal Illness (Cancer).
→ Grief.
→ Loneliness.
→ Age Range: Young Adult.
→ Genre: Contemporary, Magical Realism.
→ Book Type: Play.
Favourite Quote: ‘Your mind will believe comforting lies while also knowing the painful truths that make those lies necessary.’
In-depth Rating:
→ Plot: ★★★★
→ Character Development: ★★★★
→ Setting: ★★★★
→ Entertainment Level: ★★★★★
→ Writing: ★★★★
→ Art (If Applicable): N/A.
General Comments: A poignant tribute to the life and talent of Siobhan Dowd - a nuanced tale that draws on elements of classic horror stories to delve into the terrifying terrain of loss, fear and grief. This stunning Old Vic production hits so many emotional notes; it is a timely production to stream. The play interlinks the make-believe and the painfully real (with the ensemble building ambience). It is an inventive piece of theatre, the sheer emotional potency displayed astounds. The devised plot and its nature sometimes misfires, with what seems like an overabundance of ideas losing oompfh.
Time Read: Three Days.
→ Audiobook: No.
→ Audiobook Narrator: -
Trigger Warnings:
→ Nightmares.
→ Bullying.
→ Terminal Illness (Cancer).
→ Grief.
→ Loneliness.
November 5, 2023
I just saw a high school production of this play last night, and I can’t stop thinking (read: crying) about it. I went into this production completely blind and didn’t expect to leave the auditorium with my new favorite play. As someone who has lost both of her parents to lengthy illnesses (one year apart), so much of this resonated with me. This show was very triggering for me, but I also felt a part of me will now be healed having accepted this painful truth along with our young protagonist. It goes to show hard lessons can be learned at any age, experiencing loss is a universal language, and theatre can heal.
September 13, 2022
I really really enjoyed this play version of A Monster Calls... The sadness and the imaginative aspects of the novel really came to life and Conor's situation was made much more real and heartbreaking. As always with this text- I've read the book a couple of times now- I was left with lots of questions and thoughts. For a children's book it is very philosophical and worthy of deep analysis, and for this reason, a great one to teach.
February 28, 2025
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 9, 2024
sad and kind of abstract
December 25, 2024
Honestly heartbreaking
March 12, 2021
5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Stories are important– if they carry the truth.”
“You were simply wishing for the end of pain-your own pain. An end to how it isolated you. It is the most human wish of all.”
Oh boy. Did I cry? Maybe I had A little cat hair in my eye. The play even though there’s a couple scenes that are expanded on and didn’t make it into the film, the play is just as wonderful as book. Patrick Ness’s idea that he completed for Siobhan Dowd is absolutely wonderful and if you have not read the book already I highly recommend it. It is a quick read and only 241 pages. The play is even shorter and is only 94 pages. I read both in one sitting. The book took me a day with like 2 hours probably less. The play only took me 30 minutes to an hour. To this day it is still my favorite book,each time I read it I still get something out of it. The book still hits you in the gut with all the feels every single time. Every single time I have read it I have teared up and I don’t cry when I read books but this one gets me every single time. It is one of those books that even as like an 80 year old woman I will still look upon it fondly and if I can’t read in that state of mind I will have someone read it out loud to me. I hope one day I have the honor of seeing the play on stage whether it be in person or on a stream again since I missed it the first time. I love the movie as well just as much is the book. So to see it act it out on stage would be so cool and for people who have got to see it that’s awesome. The author’s note alone at the beginning of the play got me teary-eyed. Like crap dude here come the water works. BRB got to go cry. Even though this is small because plays are small it packs a huge impact and it has one of the prettiest covers of my physical books.
“Stories are important– if they carry the truth.”
“You were simply wishing for the end of pain-your own pain. An end to how it isolated you. It is the most human wish of all.”
Oh boy. Did I cry? Maybe I had A little cat hair in my eye. The play even though there’s a couple scenes that are expanded on and didn’t make it into the film, the play is just as wonderful as book. Patrick Ness’s idea that he completed for Siobhan Dowd is absolutely wonderful and if you have not read the book already I highly recommend it. It is a quick read and only 241 pages. The play is even shorter and is only 94 pages. I read both in one sitting. The book took me a day with like 2 hours probably less. The play only took me 30 minutes to an hour. To this day it is still my favorite book,each time I read it I still get something out of it. The book still hits you in the gut with all the feels every single time. Every single time I have read it I have teared up and I don’t cry when I read books but this one gets me every single time. It is one of those books that even as like an 80 year old woman I will still look upon it fondly and if I can’t read in that state of mind I will have someone read it out loud to me. I hope one day I have the honor of seeing the play on stage whether it be in person or on a stream again since I missed it the first time. I love the movie as well just as much is the book. So to see it act it out on stage would be so cool and for people who have got to see it that’s awesome. The author’s note alone at the beginning of the play got me teary-eyed. Like crap dude here come the water works. BRB got to go cry. Even though this is small because plays are small it packs a huge impact and it has one of the prettiest covers of my physical books.
February 6, 2021
I finished this in a day, just in 2 sittings! My 14 years old self is finally making her comeback!
Anyway this was an easy read. I love all 3 stories the tree monster told Conor, as Conor put it "they are all cheat stories", all at least for the 1st two. I love how the book points out that it is completely okay to feel 2 contradictory things at the same time. A sense of assurance that nothing is wrong with you if you experience that state of emotion. Because at the end of the day, we are just human, a bundle of messes.
One thing I couldn't really understand is the relationship between Conor and Harry. I would appreciate if someone could so kindly explain why Harry felt a sense of entitlement over Conor (other than the fact that he was just a bully). Because reading the book, I felt like there should be something, a build up at least between the two of them. The fact that Harry just told him one day that Conor was invisible to him just didn't sit right with me. Did Harry actually want Conor to fight him back? And if so, why? They weren't even friends before Conor's mom got sick. They didn't even speak to each other before. Nothing annoys me more than things that I cannot comprehend.
Anyway this was an easy read. I love all 3 stories the tree monster told Conor, as Conor put it "they are all cheat stories", all at least for the 1st two. I love how the book points out that it is completely okay to feel 2 contradictory things at the same time. A sense of assurance that nothing is wrong with you if you experience that state of emotion. Because at the end of the day, we are just human, a bundle of messes.
One thing I couldn't really understand is the relationship between Conor and Harry. I would appreciate if someone could so kindly explain why Harry felt a sense of entitlement over Conor (other than the fact that he was just a bully). Because reading the book, I felt like there should be something, a build up at least between the two of them. The fact that Harry just told him one day that Conor was invisible to him just didn't sit right with me. Did Harry actually want Conor to fight him back? And if so, why? They weren't even friends before Conor's mom got sick. They didn't even speak to each other before. Nothing annoys me more than things that I cannot comprehend.
January 4, 2022
Finished this in one sitting, a very easy read. After reading this the novel sometime in 2016 and seeing this very adapted play in February 2020 I am, as I’ve always been, extremely impressed with the rawness, the emotion and the realism of both the novel and the play, despite the centrical theme of the supernatural. This play (IMO) perfectly captures the integrity of the original novel, where Conor’s ignorance towards his mothers terminal cancer illness is a constant reminder throughout the play that disbelief is a coping mechanism which is ultimately wavering and impractical. As somebody who can relate to Conor’s emotional journey *pretty much* to the T due to my father unfortunately passing away of Oesophageal cancer in 2016, I personally believe the play allows the ensemble and characters to perform that terminal illnesses’ impact ripples and devastates communities. Will be going back to the original novel soon.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 17, 2018
Though different from the original book, and adding some new scenes that didn't make it into the movie, doesn't change the fact that this is an amazing read.
I sat down and read it on a rainy afternoon. It's time well spent and tears well shed at the end of the book (for those who haven't read it I won't spoil it!)
I fully recommend the play-script of this amazing story that is told so beautifully.
I just wish I could have seen it on stage when it was on... I hope they do it again.
I sat down and read it on a rainy afternoon. It's time well spent and tears well shed at the end of the book (for those who haven't read it I won't spoil it!)
I fully recommend the play-script of this amazing story that is told so beautifully.
I just wish I could have seen it on stage when it was on... I hope they do it again.
April 10, 2023
I saw this on YouTube during lockdown and read the novel back in 2014, so I can’t say I didn’t see the floods of tears coming. And come they did!
This is such a raw play about loss and grief, centred around the main character Conor and his interactions in different situations in the play. And how he is dealing with the inevitable that everyone skirts around and doesn’t like to discuss.
It is utterly heartbreaking. Such a powerful play.
This is such a raw play about loss and grief, centred around the main character Conor and his interactions in different situations in the play. And how he is dealing with the inevitable that everyone skirts around and doesn’t like to discuss.
It is utterly heartbreaking. Such a powerful play.
January 15, 2020
A Monster Calls is one of my favourite Ness stories and even though I never got to see the play I managed to get a copy of the script and it is a wonderful adaption and provides amazing insights into how the book was transformed for the stage. I highly recommend if you loved the book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2020
This was an intersting and well told story. I think it would be very challenging to stage and I would love to see it.
August 8, 2022
Had the opportunity to see this live at the Kennedy Center from an orchestra seat. After intermission, everyone sitting in the seats surrounding me had left. Their loss! Weird and awesome.
September 5, 2023
a simple but wholly effective read. excellent direction via the stage directions. read as part of an english teacher course and will prove to be a thrilling text to explore with classes!
September 15, 2025
Would be a huge challenge to produce, but would love to see, perform in, or direct this.
May 22, 2020
*3.5
October 28, 2024
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.
September 9, 2024
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.
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July 5, 2024Quite hard going!
September 18, 2025
Well this pulls at the heart strings
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews