Preview: A Monster Calls, Bristol Old Vic

‘It is a show for anyone who has ever been a child. It is a show about anger, illness and grief – so not for the faint-hearted. It is harrowing, it has huge seismic emotions at play – but ultimately it finds a level of understanding. I think it will be astonishing.’

Actor Felix Hayes is telling Bristol 24/7 about A Monster Calls, the Old Vic/Bristol Old Vic adaptation of Patrick Ness’ bestselling all-ages novel, directed by Bristol favourite Sally Cookson (who’s previously given us the hugely acclaimed Jane Eyre, Peter Pan among others), which takes up residence at BOV from May 31-June 16.

Thirteen-year-old Conor and his mum have managed just fine since his dad moved to America. But now his mum’s very sick. His grandmother can’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, ancient and wild, 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.

Scenes from rehearsals for ‘A Monster Calls’

‘Conor (played by the wonderful Mathew Tennyson) is an ordinary 13-year-old boy whose mother has cancer,’ Felix explains. ‘As a result he is having nightmares, being bullied at school, his family relationships are at breaking point. Into his life walks a monster – a real, huge, root-and-branch monster. And its arrival turns Conor’s world upside down.’ Felix plays Conor’s estranged dad, ‘a well-meaning man who all too often does and says the wrong things.’

The book and its film adaptation were both huge hits. ‘There are so many universal themes running through it – childhood, school, our relationships with our parents and our children – all of which Patrick Ness has captured beautifully,’ Felix explains. ‘Plus, sadly, I think everyone has had contact with cancer – we all know someone, or are someone who has been directly touched by it.’

It is also, says Felix, a story about stories. ‘Stories have enormous power, we need them and are fascinated by them. As the monster says, “Stories are the wildest thing of all: stories chase and bite and hunt. When you let them loose, who knows what havoc they may wreak?”’

A Monster Calls is the latest from the long-standing collaboration between Sally Cookson and the various actors and creatives she likes to work with – among them Felix, composer/musical director Benji Bower and costume designer Katie Sykes. Does this production bear the hallmarks of a Sally Cookson show?

Felix Hayes in rehearsal

‘Yes. It is alive with them. Sally’s work is full of theatricality: it surprises, delights and satisfies you. This is not a naturalistic recreation of the novel – that has been done, brilliantly, by the film. This is full of visual storytelling – through movement, use of space, puppetry(ish), and non-naturalistic means, it captures something very real.

‘This is the sixth show I have made with Sal – so I am obviously a fan of her work. She loves actors, and that can’t be said of all directors… It is this love and trust in her company that makes working with her so special. Every person in the room has a voice and an ownership of the piece being made, which creates a wonderful (if sometimes chaotic!) working environment.

‘She encourages us all to create, to play, to offer ideas and then slowly she hones, edits and refines the piece – until we have a tight, wonderfully theatrical show that we all feel we all had a hand in creating. She also talks about us having to “hold our nerve” and “trust in the process” as the rehearsals head towards opening night: for actors it is very unsettling to have scenes edited, or moved or even cut completely the day before we open. But it always seems to happen – working on Jane Eyre, the whole piece was flexing and bending all the way through previews and even into the run. Which was exciting, to say the least – some would could call it terrifying!

‘Sally also uses the ensemble cast – ever-present, always alive and alert, always commenting on what is happening. Music, movement and text are also woven together so they become part of a single whole. Sally never lets the audience forget they are watching a piece of theatre, but somehow, magically her work manages to be profoundly touching, profoundly human.”

A Monster Calls is at Bristol Old Vic from May 31-June 16. For more info, visit bristololdvic.org.uk/whats-on/a-monster-calls

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