Tolethorpe Youth Drama performs A Monster Calls

Monday, 29 July 2024 13:30

Young theatre makers are ready to take to the Tolethorpe stage tonight for a story of love, life and healing

A Monster Calls is being performed by Tolethorpe Youth Drama from tonight until Wednesday at the Rutland Open Air Theatre. Originally a book, it was turned into a Hollywood film and this local version is performed by 13 young actors up to the age of 22. Co directors Mary Benzies and Rachel Lewin say it's a relatable story and the group can't wait to perform it to an audience.

‘The story is about a young boy whose world has been turned upside down. His mum is terminally ill and his dad has moved away and he has to live with grandma. So really everything is upturned for him on every level and he's going through a lot of grief and inner turmoil. I think as well a big theme in it is we need to talk and it keeps getting shut down. And if you just share how the burden lifts, but this is all about not talking, you know, hiding the truth. You know ‘I will be alright, I'll be alright’. I think this is the kind of pressure that we feel under all the time, but actually for young people or children that are going through this, it's so important that they talk and let that out. Then from that the hope comes’.

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