A Moving Performance: Senior School Production at Dulwich Puxi
Last Friday, Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi was graced with an exceptional and deeply touching performance by the Senior School students as they brought Patrick Ness's poignant novel, 'A Monster Calls,' to life on stage. Directed by Mr. Paul Sullivan, our Head of Drama and Dance, the production showcased the remarkable talent, creativity and hard work of our students and left the audience profoundly moved by the powerful storytelling and emotional depth.
The play tells the story of a young boy, Conor, who struggles to cope with his mother's illness and the bullies at school, finding solace in a fantastical tree monster that helps him confront his deepest fears. The adaptation of this heart-wrenching tale was nothing short of extraordinary, blending the hauntingly beautiful narrative with compelling performances and stunning visual effects.
Sean B, playing the role of Conor, portrayed a complex character who discovers his courage. Tabitha I, as Conor’s Mum, brought genuine emotion and warmth to her performance. Bella T. and Olivia W, who shared the role of the Monster, added elements of fear but also provided deeper insights into the story. Commendations are also due to all other cast and ensemble members for their dedication and hard work.
The post-show Q&A session was particularly enlightening, providing the audience with a deeper understanding of the creative process and the actors' personal connections to their roles. This discussion increased the audience’s appreciation for the depth of the production.
Quoted by Paul Sullivan
Head of Drama and Dance
Working on 'A Monster Calls' presented unique challenges, from conveying the complex emotions of the characters to creating the mystical elements on stage. One of the most remarkable aspects was Sean, who played the main character Conor, falling ill just before the performance. Despite this setback, Sean showed incredible resilience and dedication, delivering a performance that deeply touched everyone in the audience. The entire cast and crew embraced every challenge, and their hard work paid off in a performance that left a lasting impact. Seeing the students grow through this process has been incredibly rewarding.
Our students also shared their experiences and what they learned from being a part of this production.
It was such an honour to be part of bringing this beloved story on stage, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to capture the emotional depth and challenges faced by this character. Overall, I think that this production was a huge success. —— Sean B., Year 9
'A Monster Calls' tells the beautiful, yet heart-breaking story of a teenage boy dealing with his mother's cancer journey. Lots of our cast members and members of the audience themselves can certainly relate the protagonist, Conor, in many ways, so we really hope that we were able to grasp the sadness, despair and many other feelings through our acting, movements and performance. —— Bella T.B., Year 10
The Production was a thrill to act out and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the audiences reaction! —— Olivia W., Year 9
Senior School Production was definitely a memorable experience for me and all other cast. I enjoyed working together to make the scenes come to life - while also having silly fun off stage. —— Tabitha I., Year 9
Production was both physically and emotionally challenging however, in the end, I enjoyed it as I was able to have fun with the other cast members backstage. —— Poppy T., Year 9
This year, our Production took a unique approach by focusing on physicality and ensemble work. Instead of traditional props and costumes, we used our bodies to represent objects, like mirrors, and our collective presence to create the scenes and environment. This method allowed us to explore new dimensions of creativity and stand out from other shows. —— Tiger W., Year 8 & Katherine X., Year 8
I really loved the bits with the props, where each character got a chance to really flesh out their role. The props were super symbolic, which meant we didn't have to spell everything out on stage—it was all beautifully suggested. —— Clair L., Year 7
'A Monster Calls' was not just a performance but a testament to the collaborative spirit of Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi. The support from teachers, parents, and peers played a crucial role in making this production a resounding success. It highlighted our students' remarkable talents in drama and performance, showcasing their dedication, creativity, and ability to work together as a community.