A Monster Calls with The Old Vic

Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor
Image courtesy of the Old Vic Theatre.

5 — 11 June 2020 Entrance is free — Visit 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.

5 — 11 June 2020 Entrance is free Visit now

Where to go near A Monster Calls with The Old Vic

Symmetry Room
City Centre
Museum
Museum of Illusions

Museum of Illusions Manchester is part of the global Museum of Illusions Group, the largest and fastest-growing chain of private museums in the world.

Tropical World logo
Leeds
Tourist Attraction
Tropical World

At Tropical World, families can enjoy a fun-filled and educational day out. Start your epic journey in the Butterfly House, where exotic butterflies fly freely through our swampy mangrove, fluttering

Manchester
Restaurant
Soap Street Pizza

Based at Nordie in Levenshulme, Soap Street Pizza put out the perfect pie: crispy base and inspired toppings.

Wellington Place
Leeds
Event venue
Wellington Place

Wellington Place is a brand new business park in Leeds, with multi-use spaces and a varied programme of events from street food to art shows.

Carden Park
Cheshire
Hotel
Carden Park

Huge luxury estate, featuring high-end restaurant, beautiful rooms, a fully-packed spa and much more.

What's on: Families

Two young visitors looking up at a banner in a case, holding pencils and an activity sheet.
Until
ActivityManchester
2025 Banner Bingo at PHM

Explore the People’s History Museum with your banner bingo card in hand as you navigate their galleries through the lens of craftivism.

free entry

Culture Guides

Sextile
Music in the North

Electronic music features heavily in our latest round-up of gig highlights across Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool.

Laura Ellen Bacon, Into Being, 2025. Photo © India Hobson, courtesy Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Exhibitions in the North

Willow weaving, textile collages, digital arts and ecology - all this and more in our exhibition top picks this month

A woman sits in a car with hands holding the steering wheel.
Cinema in the North

Vintage Alfred Hitchcock and a family friendly film festival are amongst our highlights this May.

Image by Jonathan Schofield.
Tours and Activities in the North

We've got many a good time in store this month as we round up the best walking tours, cultural classes and makers markets in the land.

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

Dynamic dance, party-performance, high-energy stand-up and a site-specific show set in a pub. All this and more in our newest theatre guide.

Okechukwu Nzelu
Literature Events in the North

If it's inspiring, inclusive events and avant-garde, experimental afternoons you're after, look no further than live literature this spring – we've got you covered.