It’s always fascinating to see a story you already know and love transformed for the stage, and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is particularly suited to theatrical storytelling. Mark Haddon’s 2003 novel enthralled readers like me with its unusual narrative perspective, its mesmerising flights of fantasy, and its emotionally compelling exploration of family life. Simon Stephens’ 2012 stage adaptation quickly earned a reputation as one of the most distinctive and successful modern plays, winning seven Olivier Awards and later transferring to Broadway, where it won the Tony Award for Best Play. More than twenty years after the book first appeared, I’m intrigued to see how this new touring production puts its own stamp on this well-known and much-loved story. Rather than attempting to recreate the celebrated original, this production directed by Ned Bennett promises to give the story a fresh visual identity and, most significantly, reimagines Christopher as Chris Boone, a teenage girl. The role is shared by neurodivergent performers Alex Keenan and Imi Price, bringing an important new perspective to a character whose perception of the world is at the very centre of the piece.
Alex Keenan is on tonight, and is particularly impressive. She makes Chris intensely watchable, capturing her intelligence, curiosity and vulnerability without ever reducing her to a stereotype. I find myself completely drawn into Chris’s very particular logic: numbers make sense, people often don’t, and the ordinary world can suddenly become overwhelming. It is a demanding central performance, because Chris is effectively our guide through the entire experience, and Keenan carries us along with remarkable assurance.
Joe McFadden brings great energy and emotional complexity to Ed, Chris’s father, while Charlie Brooks gives her mum, Judy, a believable mixture of affection, frustration and vulnerability. Their performances make the family dynamics feel messy and oh so recognisably human. Bridgette Amofah is also excellent as teacher and trusted adult Siobhan, providing a reassuring presence whenever the world around Chris becomes particularly difficult.
The production design is a character in itself. Eleanor Bull’s minimalist set gives the stage an uncluttered quality that allows Chris’s mind to dominate the space. Don’t be fooled by the seeming simplicity though – it flatters to deceive, offering many tricks which enhance the experience of the evening. Laura Deward’s lighting, Hayley Egan’s video design and Giles Thomas’s original music and sound work together to create something immersive, sometimes beautiful and sometimes deliberately overwhelming. Puppetry, movement and a highly versatile ensemble add yet more layers to the highly dramatic storytelling.
Having read and enjoyed Haddon’s novel, I’m pleased to find that the heart of the story remains intact. I already know where the journey takes Chris, but that doesn’t lessen its emotional impact. Instead, seeing the world through this new theatrical language makes familiar moments feel newly discovered.
Overall, this production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time offers a fresh, engaging perspective on a much-loved story. Through inventive staging, powerful central performances and its truthful exploration of neurodiversity, it encourages audiences to reassess their assumptions, embrace difference and recognise the courage required to navigate an unpredictable world.
I leave feeling entertained, moved and, above all, reminded why this story has endured. For anyone who knows the book, this is a fresh interpretation rather than a simple reproduction; for anyone discovering it for the first time, it is an inventive and deeply engaging introduction. I thoroughly recommend it.
