The Soup Movement 2025

During March 2025, pupils from The Manchester Grammar School and Manchester High School for Girls presented a theatrical adaptation of The Soup Movement by Ben Davis. The production was staged in the Cryne Theatre at MGS and brought to life the poignant and humorous story of Jordan, a teenage cancer survivor who sets out to make a difference by distributing soup to the homeless—an act that sparks an unexpected movement of kindness and community spirit.

John Best served as Director for the production, with Matthew Nichols undertaking the role of Producer. Both shared insights into their experiences throughout the creative process.

“It’s always challenging to find brilliant plays for large casts that are suitable for school productions and don’t involve singing! A wise primary teacher we know recommended Ben Davis’ The Soup Movement to us, saying it would make a fantastic theatre production.  We both read – and loved – the book…but a script for a theatrical adaptation didn’t exist. 

“No problem.  Having never met the award-winning author, we could just message him via X/Twitter and ask if we could adapt and produce his book.  He would be bound to say no, surely?  Incorrect.  He gave the project its blessing and was completely supportive throughout. A first draft script was produced in Summer 2024 and further revisions took place.  We now had the framework for a production which incorporated 26 significant speaking parts and a sizeable and frantically busy ensemble.  Oh, and around 450 sound, light and projection cues. 

“Casting was a delight.  The girls from MHSG were palpable in their enthusiasm and brought experience, professionalism and a real sense of class to proceedings.  Boys in every year group turned out to audition in record numbers and we were, frankly, spoiled for choice.  We weren’t lying when we said that we could have plausibly cast the production three times over, such was the level of talent we saw. Rehearsals started in October 2024.  Very much a collaborative effort, Mr Best assumed the role of Director, I took on producing duties and talented Year 13 Drama pupil Solly worked wonders as our Assistant Director.  We now had to turn these words, this brilliant story, and these ideas into something resembling a good play. The cast worked their socks off.  At the emotional heart of the story, Kiyah and Austin created a beautiful and dynamic hospital-bound friendship, surrounded by quirky and outsized characters.  When our leading actor had to withdraw with less than a week to go before opening night, Harry stepped up and took over the role.  Though you’d barely notice the script in his hand, by the final night he had committed the part to memory. 

Mr Best’s ambitious multimedia opening set the tone for the production, and everything flowed seamlessly from there.  The backstage team and technicians kept the show on the road.  No small challenge with its wealth of props, hundreds of cues and quick costume changes.  Not to mention the prosthetic makeup! Audiences were kind and supportive, cheering on the young performers.  People were genuinely moved by the story, and we were immensely proud of everyone on stage and behind the scenes. The last night added an extra frisson of excitement.  Ben Davis came to MGS to watch the performance, the first adaptation of any of his works.  Generous and gracious with his time before and after the performance, he met the cast, answered questions, signed scripts and embodied the very spirit of generosity which is so evident in his books.  The cherry on the cake?  An email from Ben, thanking the cast, and describing the production as a ‘genuine career highlight’.  Job done.”

Author Ben Davis commented: “Seeing the Soup Movement brought to life at The Manchester Grammar School was honestly a huge career highlight for me. The Soup Movement is the book of mine that people seem to take to their hearts the most, and seeing the passion and talent that went into recreating it for the stage was an incredibly moving experience. The inspiration for the story came from a man called Richard Brabin, who would go around Oxford with a trailer on the back of his bike, giving out soup to homeless people. My challenge was to reimagine that with a teenage protagonist. When I listened to a podcast which detailed the concept of the ‘mitzvah’, I knew straight away how I was going to tackle it. 

"Another big inspiration for the story was the feeling of helplessness we can experience when watching world news. I realised that the best thing we can do is citizens is to try and make the world on our doorsteps a little bit better, and if we can do that, who knows where it might lead? That’s the big message I wanted people to take away from the Soup Movement. I had no idea how the book would work onstage, with its two timelines, and was so impressed with how Mr Nichols adapted it, with the two hospital beds telegraphing the transitions. The young actors were brilliant too, but I have to confess, it was quite surreal seeing them in front of me, as if they had escaped from my brain!

"I would like to finish by saying a huge thank you to all the cast and crew, and to everyone at MGS who gave me such a warm welcome.”

Well done to all those involved in the production for their commitment and effort in bringing this performance to the stage and contributing to its outstanding success. As a great conclusion to the experience, pupils also enjoyed a Soup Movement-themed cake in celebration of a cast member’s birthday, as pictured below.