A Monster Calls with The Old Vic

Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor

Visit now

A Monster Calls

5-11 June 2020

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Image courtesy of the Old Vic Theatre.
Book now

The Old Vic have started to stream some of their masterpieces for free and it all kicks off with the Olivier Award-winning production of A Monster Calls.

The adaptation of Patrick Ness’s piercing novel A Monster Calls was first seen on stage in 2018. It tells the story of 13-year-old Conor and his mother, who is sick and not getting any better. Then, one night, Conor hears something at his window. A monster has come to call. It has come to tell Conor stories and to make him face his deepest fears head-on.

Beautifully performed and deeply moving, critics and audiences praised the show for its inventive staging and emotional rawness in tackling death and grief.

A stunning examination of identity, loss and hope, A Monster Calls was a best-seller when it was published in 2011. A film version swiftly followed in 2017, before the novel was adapted for the stage.

Suitable for families with children aged 10 and over, this is a courageous and honest production. Authentic, but far from gloomy. Brace yourself for tears.

While you’re here…be sure to check out our full (and frequently updated) guide to the best online things to do in Manchester and the North.

Where to go near A Monster Calls with The Old Vic

Rochdale Town Hall is a Victorian-era municipal building in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. It is
Manchester
Rochdale Town Hall

Rochdale Town Hall is a Victorian-era municipal building in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, widely recognised as being one of the finest municipal buildings in the country.

Cafe Beermoth
City Centre
Bar or Pub
Cafe Beermoth

Cafe Beermoth is the very definition of a modern Manchester pub – relaxed, friendly and with a wide range of carefully curated booze options.

Chorlton
Restaurant
Horse and Jockey Chorlton

Chorlton’s magnificent Horse and Jockey has had an almighty do-over, transforming it into one of South Manchester’s top must-visit drinking and dining destinations.

The Curling Club - Vinegar Yard
Castlefield
The Curling Club

New Jackson in Manchester is having a full scale seasonal takeover. Think curling lanes, lively bars and a packed line up of DJs and performances.

Chadderton Town Hall
Manchester
Event venue
Chadderton Town Hall

Chadderton Town Hall is a magnificent example of Edwardian architecture . Built in 1912/13 in the style of ‘English Renaissance’ and recently restored maintaining its traditional features in regal reds

Cumbria
Restaurant
Heft

A Michelin star restaurant and homely 17th century inn in the Lake District, with food provided by esteemed chef Kevin Tickle.

Tangerine
Chapel Street
Restaurant
Tangerine

Manchester’s latest must-visit multipurpose venue, offering top-level food, drinks and live shows.

Bar Posie
City Centre
Bar or Pub
Posie

A new cocktail bar from the crack team behind 10 Tib Lane and Henry C.

What's on: Families

Culture Guides

Music in the North

This week’s picks move from confrontational electronics and experimental pop to opera and Manchester’s grassroots R&B scene.

Textured portrait image of Jarman
Theatre in the North

Theatre across the North West splits between festive escape and sharp, urgent work exploring politics, power and resistance.

Food and Drink in the North

Hear ye, hear ye. Take some eating-out tips from our wintertime guide to food and drink in Manchester and the North.

A doll with makeup peeks out of a hanging wall of butter yellow fabric. Red and black threads descend and cascade around the doll.
Exhibitions in the North

This season, exhibitions across the North West feel attuned to the world beneath the world – the forces and stories shaping how we see, feel and imagine.

A performer in a bright red costume sits on a snowy stage set, holding a large snowball between their legs with a surprised expression. The colourful winter backdrop features snowflakes, hills, a snowman, and a traffic light with glowing lights.
Family things to do in the North

Whether you’re after storybook theatre, museum wanderings or illusion-bending play spaces, there’s plenty to keep curiosity ticking through winter and beyond.

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night
Cinema in the North

There's no shortage of great films out at the moment, whether you're looking for the latest blockbuster, that hot arthouse flick fresh from Cannes or a cosy classic.