The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time At The Theatre Royal, Nottingham Review

Reviewed by Louise Edwards

It is 10 years since the Mark Haddon, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time hit novel was adapted for the stage by Simon Stephens and directed by Marianne Eliott and in that time it has won a string of awards including the 2015 Tony Award for Best Play. Produced by the National Theatre you know this will be a stage magic of the highest quality.

The story centres around 15 year old Christopher Boone, played tonight by the wonderful Connor Curren (there are two actors who play Christopher and I’m guessing this is because it is such an intense and physical role) who discovers his neighbour’s dog Wellington has been brutally stabbed with a garden fork. The neighbour in question is Mrs Shears played by Hannan Sinclair Robinson who plays multiple other parts in the play, as many of the cast members do.

Christopher, who is on the autism spectrum, is falsely accused of being involved and taken to the police station as he hits out at the policeman who tries to restrain him. As is common with children on the spectrum, Christopher’s senses are heightened and he doesn’t like to be touched by anyone.

The opening scenes are dramatic and quite shocking, grabbing your attention and heightening your senses with loud noise as the stage switches between bright lights then being plunged into darkness. This is to give the audience a glimpse of what it feels like for Christopher himself and the effect takes you into his world and experiences.

Christopher’s dad, Ed, (played by Tom Peters) comes to pick him up, explaining that it is a misunderstanding. Christopher, however is determined to find out who killed Wellington as if they killed Wellington, who was a perfectly nice dog, what would they do to him?

The story is told through the narrator who is also Christopher’s teacher Siobhan played by Rebecca Root. Christopher isn’t in a mainstream school, but he is exceptionally bright and has an amazing brain. At just 15 years old he is already studying A level Maths. Maths is Christopher’s thing and he is obsessed and finds comfort in numbers, bringing order to the complexities he finds life brings.

We learn that Christopher’s dad is bringing him up alone and his dad tells him that his mum, Judy, (played by Kate Kordel) has died of a heart attack. When Christopher discovers a box full of letters from his mum he is confused as he thought she had died 18 months previously.

The play is fast paced and incredibly high energy, particularly for the main characters. The story is engaging and gripping. The stage design and video effects, particularly when Christopher (who has never left his town of Swindon) travels on the tube in his search for his mum, are incredibly powerful and effective. I have to admit to shedding a tear or two at the end as the show is so emotional, uplifting and heart warming.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the night time is definitely one of the best pieces of theatre we have seen in a long time and really is one that should not be missed. A fantastic immersive experience that will stay with you long after the curtain falls.

Rating: 5/5 (wish I could give it more)

Tickets cost from £21

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is at The Theatre Royal, Nottingham until Saturday 12 February 2022

For more information or to book tickets visit https://trch.co.uk/whats-on/the-curious-incident-2022/ or call the box office on 0115 989 5555

Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall, Theatre Square, Nottingham, NG1 5ND

Further tour dates can be found here.