Dear Young Monster - NHB Modern Plays
Dear Young Monster - NHB Modern Plays
paperback
Published:
14 August, 2025
Description
'A jolt, a shock, a humming just beneath my skin, something surging through my veins, my body awakening, buzzing to life finally, FINALLY.'
A young trans man, struggling as he begins his medical transition, drops out of university and retreats to his quiet hometown. His friends are gone. The neighbours are watching. His body is changing faster than he can make sense of it... until a midnight screening of Frankenstein offers him a strange kind of salvation.
Staring into the monster's big, dead, sad eyes, something finally clicks: for the first time, he feels seen.
Vivid, witty and humane, Dear Young Monster is Pete MacHale's debut solo show, delving into fear, otherness, and what it means to embrace being the monster the world keeps telling you that you are.
It premiered at Bristol Old Vic in 2024, directed by Sammy Glover, and was nominated for the WhatsOnStage Award for Best Studio Production. It transferred to Soho Theatre, London, in 2025.
More Details
| Type | Book |
|---|---|
| ISBN13 | 9781839044991 |
| ISBN10 | 1839044993 |
| Number Of Pages | 56 |
| Item Weight | 73 g |
| Product Dimensions | 129 x 198 x 4 mm |
| Publisher / Reseller | Nick Hern Books |
| Format | paperback |
Media Reviews
'A queer hidden gem... powerful and well-thought through... full of exciting and heartfelt queer storytelling'
* Broadway World *'A truly important piece of theatre... deeply impactful for all audiences, no matter their age, sex or gender'
* Bristol 24/7 *'Bold, poetic, and unflinchingly honest, an hour of theatre that leaves you breathless and thinking long after the lights come up... both poignant and powerful. MacHale brilliantly illustrates the claustrophobia of being trapped in a body that feels alien, the yearning to be understood, and the fear of being seen as monstrous. It's a concept that could easily veer into melodrama, but here it's handled with nuance and wit. The writing is sharp, poetic, and often darkly funny, with moments of levity that land just when they're needed'
* All That Dazzles *'Compelling... an enlightening and engaging insight into what it is to be a trans person... reveals MacHale to be a very good writer'
* StageTalk Magazine *'Deeply personal and well crafted'
* Theatre & Tonic *'A powerful, focused monologue... exudes charm and innovation... beautifully crafted... more than earns its rapturous reception'
* Lou Reviews *'Gripping and incredibly authentic... brilliantly structured... an insightful look at what it is truly like to live as a transgender person – both the struggles and the joys. It should be compulsory viewing for everyone – especially young people'
* Reviews Hub *'A unique piece of theatre describing one person's trans experience with honesty, authenticity and power... extraordinary'
* Everything Theatre *'Multi-layered, funny, touching, and poignant... as important as it is enjoyable and entertaining'
* Fairy Powered Productions *'Realistic and honest... I'd happily use this play for GCSE and A-level work… lots of scenes to choose from to explore monologue work as well as to springboard students' own work for devising… The themes of the play will open up much discussion'
* Drama & Theatre Magazine *GoodReads Reviews
Author's Bio
Pete MacHale is an actor and writer. His debut solo show Dear Young Monster was first staged at the Bristol Old Vic in 2024 before playing at Soho Theatre, London, in 2025.