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Monster
England is a country frightened of its young, a country of ASBOs, hoodies and happy slapping. How has our youth got so out of control?
In a classroom somewhere a teacher, Tom, is alone with Darryl, an excluded boy, in an effort to teach him where all else has failed. Can Tom save Darryl? Or does Tom need a little saving himself? Can anyone save anyone?
Monster won second prize in the Bruntwood Playwriting Competition for the Royal Exchange, part of the Manchester International Festival. It opened at the Royal Exchange, Manchester in June 2007.
In a classroom somewhere a teacher, Tom, is alone with Darryl, an excluded boy, in an effort to teach him where all else has failed. Can Tom save Darryl? Or does Tom need a little saving himself? Can anyone save anyone?
Monster won second prize in the Bruntwood Playwriting Competition for the Royal Exchange, part of the Manchester International Festival. It opened at the Royal Exchange, Manchester in June 2007.
166 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2008
About the author
Duncan Macmillan
64 books74 followersThis page is for the English playwright. For the Scottish art historian, see Duncan Macmillan.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 20, 2021
I’m a big fan of Duncan Macmillan and I’m glad I read this play. Certainly not his best but still thought-provoking and well written
April 26, 2023
Lo malo de conocer a un autor por su mejor obra es cuando buscas su bibliografia y te deja indiferente.
July 16, 2016
MacMillan's second play builds on the promise of his first, which I enjoyed also. Some of the British allusions I didn't understand, but still a rock solid piece of theatre.
July 15, 2022
Chilling!
What a powerful, moving and emotive read. I'm sure it would be amplified on the stage, but the emotion I derived was not enjoyment or pleasure. Rather it was fear and worry! Excellently written to leave the reader with a penny drop moment at the end.
Some terrifically tense moments, incredible twists and I was completely immersed in the horror of the situation.
I was especially gripped by the scene where Daryl visits the pregnant wife at the end with a knife and the conversation the teacher has with the grandma - frustrating yet SO real.
The ending really left me with the realisation that everybody has a little 'monster' within them, not just the troubled teen, but the mild teacher with a violent outburst past, and the new mother struggling with her new baby.
What a powerful, moving and emotive read. I'm sure it would be amplified on the stage, but the emotion I derived was not enjoyment or pleasure. Rather it was fear and worry! Excellently written to leave the reader with a penny drop moment at the end.
Some terrifically tense moments, incredible twists and I was completely immersed in the horror of the situation.
I was especially gripped by the scene where Daryl visits the pregnant wife at the end with a knife and the conversation the teacher has with the grandma - frustrating yet SO real.
The ending really left me with the realisation that everybody has a little 'monster' within them, not just the troubled teen, but the mild teacher with a violent outburst past, and the new mother struggling with her new baby.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2023
A rollercoaster. I was on the edge of my seat at the end. Kinda a classic troubled teen and teacher who believes in him story but with a twist!
May 16, 2025
this play is so hard to read but so powerful
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews