Throughout the films the key questions will appear on screen, serving as a perfect point at which to pause and reflect on the previous answers.

Each film could be watched and discussed over two lessons with additional lessons to study the specified scenes plus develop, rehearse and perform their own responses. This means that the entire project could take up to ten lessons to complete.

We have created these films with the following plan in mind, though they are all adaptable to suit your learners and your teaching style. We suggest that they’re viewed in the following order:

1. Interview with Bethan Marlow, followed by the written task.
2. Interview with Izzy Rabey, followed by the directing task.
3. Interview with Osian Meilir, followed by the movement task.
4. Interview with Nicola T. Chang, followed by the music task.

These lessons have been designed with collaboration/group work in mind, though pupils may wish to complete certain tasks alone. There is also the opportunity for cross-curricular collaboration across the disciplines of Drama, Music, Dance and Performing Arts.

Feral Monster is the story of unremarkable teen, Jax, as she/they/whatever navigates love, sexuality, identity, family and the many parts of her loud, opinionated brain.

Expelled from school and not even able to get a job at the chippy, Jax is a ‘cheeky, loveable teenage street rat’ living with her Nan in a ‘tiny, boring village’. Against a backdrop of neurons and axons singing in their head, Jax’s brain gives a running commentary on everything they do, don't do or shouldn’t do. When Jax spots Ffion coming out of the chippy, with their unapologetically loud hair and clothes, sparks fly and queer teenage lust brings together this unlikely match in all its messy, clumsy and awesome glory.

Feral Monster celebrates all teenagers by choosing to spotlight the most mundane teenager in Jax. Anyone who’s ever been a teen will see themselves in this story, as writer Bethan Marlow’s script takes us from the high highs to low lows of the hormonal rollercoaster of adolescence. Alongside identity, sexuality and family, Feral Monster explores friendship, mental health, living in rural Wales, middle-class queerness versus working-class queerness, the impact of being abandoned by parents, and second chances.

Feral Monster is recommended for 14+. It contains strong language as well as:

References to: exploration of gender identity and sexuality, pornography, sex, death, self harm, childhood trauma, mental ill health, poverty and drugs.

Depictions of: alcoholism, violence, knife crime, sexual activity.

Theatrical representation of: suicide

With thanks to Ayesha Rees Khan, a counsellor who read through the script and gave advice on the content information.

The creative team all identify as LGBTQIA+, including:

Writer Bethan Marlow, a Welsh theatre-maker and screenwriter focused on telling queer and female stories. Past theatre credits include Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru, Theatr Clwyd, Pentabus Theatre, RSC and Sherman Theatre.

Director Izzy Rabey, also a musician and facilitator who won the Selar Award 2022 for contributions to Welsh language and culture and has worked at The Royal Court (where she was Trainee Director 2020-2021), Theatr Clwyd, Pentabus, English Touring Company and has worked in Kenya, the USA, India as well as the UK.

Movement Director Osian Meilir, a performer, movement artist and choreographer who has recently created a new work on the National Dance Company Wales as part of their 4x10 project this summer and has also been touring his own choreographic creation, QWERIN, in festivals and venues across the UK and Internationally.

Nicola T. Chang is an award-winning composer/sound designer for theatre and film, whose recent work includes acclaimed shows: For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy (Apollo Theatre West End / Royal Court Jerwood Downstairs / New Diorama) and My Neighbour Totoro (RSC / Barbican).

This play offers an exploration of the uniqueness of the teenage brain, moving seamlessly between the action “in real life” and the action with Jax’s brain. The following information may help your learners when they come to develop their own creative responses to Scene 4 and Scene 12.

The Right Amygdala plays a role in the expression of fear and in the processing of fear-inducing stimuli.

The Left Amygdala is associated with verbal and sustained emotional processing.

The Cerebrum manages conscious thoughts; meaning, things that you actively think about or do.

The Pituitary Gland controls metabolism, growth, sexual maturation, reproduction, blood pressure and many other vital physical functions.

The Prefrontal Cortex is responsible for skills like planning, prioritising and making good decisions.