Cypress Lake School Staged Devised Play

Students in Fort Myers recently performed a devised theater adaptation of the novel A Monster Calls.

Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Children’s Theater

Dramatic illustration of a warm spotlight beam cutting through dark indigo theatrical haze, evoking a stage production. — Students at the Cypress Lake School for the Arts in Fort Myers recently staged an original devised theater adaptation of the novel A Monster Calls. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Cypress Lake School for the Arts concluded its run of the play A Monster Calls last weekend. The production introduced local students to the unique collaborative process of devised theater.

Why it matters

Director Carmen Crussard chose this project to teach students the intricacies of creating theater without an initial script. By using improvisation, the play explores the emotional journey of a 13-year-old boy named Conor dealing with his mother's terminal illness.

The production was adapted from the novel by Patrick Ness into a devised piece, a process that originally took two weeks to complete. The narrative centers on a 13-year-old character navigating the challenges of a mother facing terminal illness.

The players

Cypress Lake School for the Arts

This educational institution located in Fort Myers specializes in providing students with rigorous training in various artistic disciplines.

Carmen Crussard

She serves as the director who selected the play to facilitate student learning regarding the advantages of devised theater.

Patrick Ness

He is the author of the original 2012 novel version of A Monster Calls.

Sally Cookson

She is a creative collaborator who helped pioneer the process of converting the book into a devised play.

The details

Devised theater involves creating a production through collaboration and trial and error rather than starting with a finished script. This method allowed the students at Cypress Lake School for the Arts to formulate their own unique performance piece.

The production concluded at the school on September 27, 2026.
The school produced the play over last weekend.

Industry Dynamics

This production follows the structural and creative patterns established by the original devised theater adaptation developed by Sally Cookson and Adam Peck. By adopting this style, the school signals a shift toward prioritizing collaborative, process-based performance over traditional script-led theater.

The production highlights the importance of experiential education for local students in Southwest Florida. This move toward devised theater exposes young performers to non-traditional workflows that differ significantly from standard script-based drama classes.

The takeaway

The use of devised theater allows students to take active roles in the authorship of their performances. This pedagogical approach fosters collaboration and problem-solving skills that are essential in modern theatrical production.