A Monster Calls

A MONSTER CALLS
A MONSTER CALLS
A MONSTER CALLS
A MONSTER CALLS
A MONSTER CALLS
A MONSTER CALLS

An Old Vic production in association with Bristol Old Vic, Global Creatures and Jonathan Church Productions presented A Monster Calls, based on the fantasy novel by Patrick Ness. The season premiered at the Bristol Old Vic in May 2018 before transferring to the Old Vic in London from July 2018.

Subsequently, a UK tour launched in February 2020 at the Chichester Festival Theatre, but was cut short in March due to COVID-19. In 2022, the production made its triumphant return, reopening at the Rose Theatre in London, followed by performances at Bristol Old Vic, before heading to Washington, D.C., for a month-long engagement at the Kennedy Center from 25 May.

In 2024, Parco Theatre in Japan, in association with Global Creatures and Jonathan Church Theatre Productions presented A Monster Calls to Japanese audiences for the very first time with performances in Tokyo and Osaka.

The original production in 2019 won the Olivier Award for Best Entertainment and Family.

A theatrical performance featuring people interacting with a web of suspended ropes on a stage, with one person in a school uniform at the center and others in casual clothing pulling the ropes; chairs are scattered around, and a screen in the background shows musicians playing cello and double bass under dramatic lighting.

Credit Manuel Harlan

"A dazzling piece of theatre, gut wrenchingly real but never grim."

I Love Manchester

Creatives

Credit Manuel Harlan
Credit Manuel Harlan
Credit Manuel Harlan

Creative Team

Director	Sally Cookson
Writer in the Room	Adam Peck
Set Designer	Michael Vale
Costume Designer	Katie Sykes
Composer	Benji Bower
Lighting	Aideen Malone
Sound	Mike Beer
Projection	Dick Straker
Casting	Jessica Ronane (CDG Casting)
Movement	Dan Canham
Aerial Director	Matt Costain

Credit Manuel Harlan

Show Fact

The tree was crafted from ropes, allowing it to transform into various shapes and be swiftly moved on and off stage.
Credit Manuel Harlan

Show Fact

The story unfolds over two Acts, each made up of sixteen short, powerful scenes like in the novel, with some of the scenes even sharing the same names including "Breakfast," "School," and "Life Writing".

Awards

Credit Manuel Harlan
Credit Manuel Harlan
Credit Manuel Harlan

2019 Olivier Award Wins

Best Entertainment & Family

2019 Olivier Award Nominations

Best Sound Design	Mike Beer
Outstanding Achievement in Music	Benji Bower for composing and performing and Will Bower for performing

View all global creatures awards

Gallery

Cast of A Monster Calls play performing on stage

A monster Calls Play at the Kennedy Center

Credit Manuel Harlan

Social Responsibility

creative writing challenge

As part of a commitment to nurturing creativity and storytelling, A Monster Calls launched a creative writing challenge to coincide with National Storytelling Week. Aspiring writers were invited to submit short stories inspired by themes central to the play, including: Family; Grief; Friendship; Hope; Self-care; and Love.

Selected stories were then brought to life by members of the cast, who narrated them and shared them on social media, shining a spotlight on emerging writers and their incredible talent.

The production also prioritised accessibility, offering a range of inclusive performances across the tour, including sign-language interpreted, audio-described, captioned, and relaxed performances.

To support learning, a free teaching resource kit was created and shared online, offering insights into the production alongside classroom activities and exclusive interviews with members of the creative team and cast.

What It Was Like Working On The Show

"The stage production of A Monster Calls has been one of the most incredible experiences of my life. "

Patrick Ness - Writer
"Despite packing an emotional punch, it is ultimately a show that brings together audience and actors to explore some of the harder aspects of being human, and find comfort collectively as the story unfolds."

Sally Cookson - Director
"The way people talk to me about the show is like nothing I've ever experienced: how moved they were, how blown away they were by the whole production."

Patrick Ness - Writer

Patrick Ness’s piercing novel A Monster Calls is brought vividly to life in the Olivier award-winning production by visionary director Sally Cookson. Thirteen-year-old Conor and his mum have managed just fine since his dad moved. But now his mum is sick and not getting any better. His grandmother won’t stop interfering and the kids at school won’t look him in the eye.

Then, one night, Conor is woken by something at his window. A monster has come walking. It’s come to tell Conor tales from when it walked before. And when it’s finished, Conor must tell his own story and face his deepest fears.

From the critically acclaimed bestseller by Patrick Ness, A Monster Calls offers a dazzling insight into love, life and healing. The book has sold over a million copies and garnered huge critical acclaim, including an unprecedented double win of the Carnegie and Greenaway Medals for outstanding children’s literature and illustration.

Credit Manuel Harlan

Story

KEY DATES

2018	A Monster Calls had its debut premiere on 31 May at the Bristol Old Vic.
2018	On 7 July, the production transferred to the Old Vic in London.
2020	A Monster Calls began its first UK tour on 6 February, before being brought to an early close on 14 March due to COVID-19.
2022	The production returned to UK stages from 24 March to 23 April, before traveling across to North America for a limited season at the Kennedy Center from 25 May to 1 June.
2024	Between 10 February and 17 March, A Monster Calls reached new audiences with its first-ever tour of Japan, presented by Parco Theatre in association with Global Creatures and Jonathan Church Theatre Productions.