Posted: January 24, 2025
A talented group of Performing Arts students from North Lindsey College is gearing up for their first public production, bringing their own rendition of ‘A Monster Calls’ to life on stage.
The cast features 21 dedicated students from the College’s full-time Performing Arts Acting pathway, including nine final-year students who have collectively secured over 30 progression offers from drama schools and universities nationwide, marking the next exciting step in their journey toward a professional career in acting.
The story, originally penned by Siobhan Dowd and Patrick Ness, tells the poignant story of Conor, a young boy navigating grief and the challenges of everyday life as he cares for his ailing mother. Help arrives in the form of a Monster, guiding him through his struggles. This powerful story was adapted for the stage by the Bristol Old Vic in 2018 and brought to the big screen with Liam Neeson in the title role, captivating audiences with its emotional depth and universal themes.
Charlie Thompson, who takes on the role of Conor, said, “The course has provided me with everything I need to study at drama school. Tackling plays like ‘A Monster Calls’ has helped me develop my script work, character development, and it has really brought us together as a team.”
The production is a collaborative effort involving other areas of the College as well. Digital students competed to design the promotional poster for the show, with over 20 entries submitted. Among them, Level 3 Creative Media student Tyler’s design was selected. Drawing from his personal experience of loss, Tyler dedicated the poster to his mother, perfectly capturing the tone of the performance.
“I’m so ecstatic that my poster was chosen to advertise the production,” Tyler said.
Laura Dent, Performing Arts Tutor at North Lindsey College, praised the students’ commitment to the project: “It is such an amazing play centred around some tricky themes and rich, complex characters. Rehearsing a performance of a story that holds so much emotion has allowed our students to really push their performance skills to new heights and come up with new storytelling techniques.”
The performance will take place at 6:00 PM on Thursday, February 6, 2025, hosted at Frederick Gough School. Tickets are priced at £5 and can be purchased via the QR code.
A Monster Calls is based on the novel by Patrick Ness and inspired by an original idea by Siobhan Dowd, devised by Sally Cookson, Adam Peck and the Company.