Reviewed by Louise Edwards
Theatre at its very best, in the form of A Monster Calls which has been produced by The Old Vic is showing this week at Nottingham’s Theatre Royal.
Inspired by Patrick Ness’s award-winning young adult book of love, loss and hope, A Monster Calls, tells the story of Conor, a 13-year-old boy, whose mother has cancer.
As the drama starts time is wound back and we meet Conor’s mum, played by Maria Omakinwa, holding him as a baby and introducing him to, nature at its finest, an old Yew tree that grows close to the house.
Fast forward to the present day and Conor, played by Ammar Duffus, is getting ready for school, assisted by the ensemble who sit on the chairs at the side, holding out his uniform, breakfast and schoolbooks. The usual morning routine for a teenager. Conor is no regular teenager though. He puts his pots in the dishwasher and a load of washing in the machine, without being asked! We now see his mum, with her head in a scarf, looking tired and shaky. As her health is clearly declining, she tells Conor that Grandma (who he has a fraught relationship with) will be visiting to help out.
At school Conor is relentlessly bullied, turning against his friends and teachers who try to help him he bottles up his emotions, unable to translate his grief and fear. His father, absent for much of Conor’s life, returns from America where he has a new family but struggles to connect with his son.
When night-time comes Conor’s fears are highlighted in dramatic nightmares. Video affects cover the backdrop and the ensemble join Conor’s turmoil. He hears a voice – strong and stern – calling to him and he is awake. Always at the same time 12:07. The voice is coming from the old Yew tree in the garden…
The Yew Tree, played with a gentle fierceness by Keith Gilmore, has three stories to tell Conor and then he will force Conor to face the truth. None of this means much to Conor and he struggles to understand the contradictions within the stories and recognise his own personal struggles reflected in them. We see the tree take on an almost paternal role to Conor helping him to understand his pent-up emotions and deal with the horrifying situation he finds himself in.
The stage is simple, just chairs at the side and ropes hanging from the ceiling. The ropes transform into the majestic tree as Gilmore, Duffus and Omakinwa swing amongst the “branches” illustrating life’s highs and lows.
The ensemble are made up of actors who take on main characters in the story as well and the result is magnificent.
The two incredibly talented musicians, Seamas Carey and Luke Potter, are visible high on the backdrop above the stage throughout the performance. They produce atmospheric, haunting yet uplifting music using voice changing microphones, drums and electro pop to create the atmosphere, pulling the audience into the story.
Interestingly the idea for A Monster Calls was originally that of author, Siobhan Dowd, who died of breast cancer before writing the book. Her publisher suggested to Ness that he use her idea and write it, but Ness was not keen until the main character came to life in a dream.
Sally Cookson is the amazing, imaginative director who adapted it for the theatre and produced a captivating, thought provoking magical piece of theatre. Myself and my own 13-year-old son were enthralled throughout the whole show and he declared it one of the best performances he has ever seen (and he has seen quite a bit!). Treat yourself to this astonishing show and you will thank yourself for it!
Rating: 5/5
Tickets cost from £16.50 to £36.50 (booking fees may apply).
A Monster Calls is at the Theatre Royal in Nottingham from 18-22 February 2020, for more information or to book tickets visit www.trch.co.uk or call the box office on 0115 989 5555.
Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall, Theatre Square, Nottingham, NG1 5ND
