This summer, the award-winning Young Everyman & Playhouse (YEP) is set to mesmerise audiences with the powerful and emotional play A Monster Calls. Directed by Nathan Crossan-Smith, the production runs for four performances from Thursday 4 July to Saturday 6 July, showcasing a new generation of talent at the Everyman.
A Monster Calls, based on the novel by Patrick Ness and inspired by an original idea by Siobhan Dowd, devised by Sally Cookson and Adam Peck. The story tells the gripping tale of a young boy named Conor, who navigates the challenges of his mother’s battle with cancer. Visited in his nightmares by a monster, Conor embarks on a journey that is as fantastical as it is deeply human.
Featuring a cast of YEP Actors aged 18-25 from the 2024 programme, Young Everyman Playhouse provides free and invaluable opportunities for young people in Liverpool City Region, offering a platform to gain professional experience in Theatres.
This production is directed by Nathan Crossan-Smith (The Trials, Storyhouse; Bitch Boxer, Institute for Contemporary Theatre), who works extensively with young people and community groups through his youth justice lyricism project Tipping Point and in co-creation projects including with National Theatre, Barbican, National Youth Theatre.
Nathan Crossan-Smith, Director of A Monster Calls said:
"I'm delighted to be directing for the mighty Young Everyman Playhouse Actors and telling this beautiful tale. Following a young person as they navigate grief, loss and love, A Monster Calls is, for me, about the wild power of stories to offer us routes through the vast, unknowable landscapes inside us. We’re excited to be conjuring up Conor’s world with plenty of theatre magic and the talents of a brilliant group of young artists."
Leading the production are Finn Kearns as Conor, with Moli Wyn as Mum, Niamh Parrington as Grandma, and Josh Bosman as Dad. Janis Lai portrays Lily, Kieran Gregory as Harry, and Rebecca Warburton as Sully. The cast also includes Adam Murphy as Anton, Penda Ba Ndiaye as Miss Godfrey, Niall Bailey as Mr Marl, and a talented core ensemble of Monsters & Storytellers including Megan Brady, Sacha Hales, Ammar Majeed, Luigi Musa-Baldo, Alfie Ross, and Dan Sullivan. Tasha Hastings serves as the rehearsal understudy.
Students from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA), Steffan Norman and Eve Wilkinson are joining the Stage Management, while Milly Noble as Set Designer and Poppy Aindow as Costume Designer, making their professional stage debuts. The company also includes Assistant Director Sophie Compton (Be You Living or Be You Dead, YEP Directors Festival 2023 at the Everyman), a YEP Directors graduate of 2023, along with Puppetry Director Aisling Leyne.
Helen Webster, Young People & Community Producer added:
"The opportunity for our young people to take to the Everyman’s main stage is always a thrill for everyone involved. A Monster Calls platforms the talents of our older YEP Actors groups, YEP Producers, YEP Technicians, alongside LIPA students. Together with theatre professionals, we’re learning so much and creating a show that we can’t wait to share with audiences."
As the theatres continue their commitment to developing new talent, the Everyman will host the YEP Directors' Festival from Friday 27 September to Saturday 12 October, supported by the YEP Producers and YEP Technicians along with the YEP Writers' Showcase on Friday 25 October and Saturday 26 October will highlight the creativity and talent of YEP participants.
The captioned performance of A Monster Calls will take place on Friday 5 July. Tickets ranging from £5 to £12 are available now at Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse theatres (everymanplayhouse.com)
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