A Song For Ella Grey, David Almond's 2014 novel for young adults, is a genuinely enchanting book. Almond had a huge impact with his previous work Skellig (1998), which was adapted into a similarly popular stage play in 2003. The similarities between Skellig and A Song For Ella Grey are striking. Almond's work is rooted in the North East and the coastal imagery is lyrical and poetic. Sitting alongside this is a commitment to naturalism; the central relationships in the play and the way that the protagonists speak is entirely convincing. Zoe Cooper's 2024 adaptation manages to deftly capture this sense of time and place, with a particular knack for balancing the everyday with the fantastical.
We're in Northumberland and Ella Grey is our heroine and protagonist. A bright and wistfully romantic sixth-former, her friendship with Claire throbs with intensity and feeling. Together with their friends they navigate days of exploring beaches and coves, watching the dolphins out at sea and eating pasta on the beach. All of this rings absolutely true, until a strange and mysterious musician (Orpheus) arrives and captures Ella's attention. Will Orpheus manage to permanently steal Ella away from her friends and forge a new path?
Those familiar with the Orpheus myth will see just how this will develop. Cooper's text dazzles by allowing all of the friendship group to humanise and represent Orpheus as he infiltrates their world. The script incorporates opportunities for song and movement. I loved this play and it would be an absolute gift for a group of bright and capable GCSE or A Level students. Some of the more abstract moments focusing on the ideas of mortality and the nature of love might prove too challenging for younger students. There is so much scope here for adding creative flourishes, as well as some brilliant characters and a gem of a part for the actor playing Ella, in particular. This edition is particularly useful as it's padded with additional resources and teaching materials to help teachers and students navigate the play. This is a haunting work that transcends its possible ‘young adult material’ categorisation and emerges as a tribute to youth, love and optimism.