The Crocodile of Sadness

The Crocodile of Sadness by John Powell Jones is an experimental performance exploring grief, care and shared responsibility.

Presented in Lowry’s Studio Theatre, the work invites audiences into an intimate, imaginative space where storytelling, digital media and live performance meet. Presented at Lowry for the first time as a live performance, the story is adapted from an original graphic novel by John Powell Jones, bringing an imagined world to life on stage.

Set in the fictional world of Durt, the work takes the form of a performance lecture that gradually begins to unravel. Through layered narration, projected digital material and moments of interruption, the story centres on Drock, a crocodile tasked with carrying the sadness of the Skyn Forest in fragile, egg-like vessels. As reliance on this system grows, its consequences become increasingly clear.

The story is guided by The Maddock, a ceremonial narrator, and The Rollop, an interpreter of myth. At key moments, the narrative is disrupted by transmissions from Skrud, a hostile presence that interferes with the story and reshapes how it is understood.

An imagined world woven from sci-fi, graphic novels and folklore, The Crocodile of Sadness asks how grief is shared, who is asked to carry it, and what is lost when collective care breaks down.

Age Recommendation: 12+

Runtime: Approx 50 mins