A grime-theatre mash-up. Too black for my white friends, but too white for my Black friends. Growing up mixed race in Newport, I fell into a cloud of grey. Absent Black father, ducking the police, working out what it means to be a man. I was struggling to find my place in the world and in danger of spiralling out of control. Then one moment changed my life. Created from grime culture and inspired by Dizzee Rascal, Wiley, Skepta and Kano, The Making of a Monster is Connor's story. Reviews: "Connor Allen's startling grime-theatre mash-up is as emotionally raw as it is playful and imaginative" - The Stage "Honest...funny and tender" - South Wales Life "Astoundingly raw" - Wales Theatre Review "One of the best things I've watched all year" - Aleighcia Scott, singer "Connor is not only annoyingly talented. He is the thing that most writers try and fail to be: Absolutely genuine." - Bryony Kimmings, performance artist "Connor Allen is one of the most generous, gracious souls I've ever been lucky enough to meet. The story of how he came through tough times to become the man he is today will be an inspiration to ever" - Gary Owen, writer

About the Author
Connor is the newly appointed Children's Laureate of Wales (2021-2023). Since graduating from Trinity Saint David as an Actor, he has worked with companies such as Sherman Theatre, Tin Shed Theatre and National Theatre Wales. He is a member of National Youth Theatre of Great Britain and was also the winner of TriForce's Cardiff MonologueSlam, representing Wales at the London winners edition. As a writer he was a member of the BBC Wales Welsh Voices and The Welsh Royal Court writing groups and has written for BBC Wales, BBC Radio 4, Sherman Theatre, Literature Wales and Dirty Protest. Connor's work is heavily inspired by elements of his own life such as grief, love, masculinity, identity, and ethnicity. Most recently he was longlisted for the 2020 Wales Writer in Residence, won the 2021 Rising Star Wales Award and was a Jerwood Live Work Fund recipient in 2021. He is associate artist of his hometown theatre The Riverfront in Newport.

Reviews
"Connor Allen's startling grime-theatre mash-up is as emotionally raw as it is playful and imaginative" - The Stage; "Honest...funny and tender" - South Wales Life; "Astoundingly raw" - Wales Theatre Review; "One of the best things I've watched all year" - Aleighcia Scott, singer; "Connor is not only annoyingly talented. He is the thing that most writers try and fail to be: Absolutely genuine." - Bryony Kimmings, performance artist; "Connor Allen is one of the most generous, gracious souls I've ever been lucky enough to meet. The story of how he came through tough times to become the man he is today will be an inspiration to everyone."- Gary Owen, writer


Awards
Winner of Imison Award 2023.



Book Information
ISBN 9781912430857
Author Connor Allen
Format Paperback
Page Count 88
Imprint Aurora Metro Publications
Publisher Aurora Metro Publications