A Monster Calls

‘I did not come to heal her, the monster said. I came to heal you.’ 

To say The Skinners’ School Junior Production of ‘A Monster Calls,’ performed in the last week of the summer term in Byng Theatre, was moving is an understatement. By the end of the performance there wasn’t a dry eye in the house (although I cannot say for certain because I was crying so much, I couldn’t see anyone else in the audience!). Moving, powerful, poignant, and spine-chilling, the production explored the experiences and emotions of Conor, a teenage boy whose mother is suffering from terminal cancer, and who is suffering his own battle with school bullies. Conor invokes a ‘monster’ from an old yew tree, an ancient, elemental force of nature who takes Conor on a journey through stories and who finally forces Conor to confront his own difficult truth at the end of the play. 

The production, directed by Helen Kirk, was very much a team effort, with a large cast of Skinners’ boys from Years 7 to 9 and students from Bethany school taking the stage, and a slick tech team under the tutelage of James Dean, working behind the scenes. The striking set, designed by Mike Taylor, was dominated by scaffolding representing the bare branches of the yew tree, from which the monster emerged. The ‘monster’ was represented by an ensemble who used both movement and choral speaking to create a fantasy character that was truly awe-inspiring. Polished choreographed movement pieces were used to represent the fight scene and Conor’s confused and overwhelming emotions. 

There were so many accomplished performances from all the cast, including, for example: Rafi Tootal’s convincing portrayal of Conor’s fussy but caring Granny; Oliver Coleman Smith’s thoughtful presentation of Conor's absent father; and Will Harrison’s confident and credible depiction of the school bully, aided and abetted by Isaac Harding and Josh Dodd who added humour to the production. However, I must give special mention to two actors whose performances were truly outstanding: Zak Greenwood (8A), who played Conor, was centre stage throughout the play and powerfully conveyed the character’s heart-breaking predicament with such sensitivity; Max Maclean (9K), playing the leading voice of the monster, created a supernatural force to be reckoned with on stage. Aided by amazing, fantastical stage make-up, Max’s compelling performance brought the character to life, sending a supernatural shiver down my spine each time he was on stage. 

The production of ‘A Monster Calls’ took me on my own journey of emotions, to a final truth: there is no need to go to London’s West End when drama at Skinners’ is this good!  

Sian Evans