The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time nationwide tour to visit Rochdale high schools

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is coming to Rochdale

A specially staged production of the National Theatre’s award-winning play, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time will be seen by three secondary schools in Rochdale in partnership with The Lowry as part of a 12-week tour in Autumn 2018.

The tour will visit Kingsway Park High School, St Anne’s Academy and Hollingworth Academy in November and December 2018, as part of the National Theatre’s drive to introduce new audiences to theatre, in a three-year partnership working with local theatres and schools.

Adapted by two-time Olivier Award-winning playwright Simon Stephens and directed by Olivier and Tony Award®‑winning director Marianne Elliott, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time brings Mark Haddon’s best-selling novel to life on stage.

The novel has won more than 17 literary awards and is widely studied in schools.

The play tells the story of Christopher John Francis Boone, who is fifteen years old. He stands besides Mrs Shears’ dead dog, Wellington, who has been speared with a garden fork: it is seven minutes after midnight and Christopher is under suspicion. He records each fact in a book he is writing to solve the mystery of who killed Wellington.  He has an extraordinary brain, and is exceptional at maths while ill-equipped to interpret everyday life.  He has never ventured alone beyond the end of his road, he detests being touched and distrusts strangers. But his detective work, forbidden by his father, takes him on a frightening journey that upturns his world.

The schools tour is a 90-minute version of the play performed in the round and will be followed by a Q&A session for students with the company. The tour is accompanied by a learning programme which includes professional development for teachers led by the NT and Curious Incident movement directors Frantic Assembly, as well as curriculum-based resources and workshops.

Speaking about the schools tour, Simon Stephens said: “It means the world to me that Curious Incident will be touring schools around the country. I am delighted that our play will play its part in introducing young people to the theatre.

“I believe the arts to be fundamental to our society. We can’t afford to lose them from our education system.

“The play is designed to provoke and inspire imagination and interpretation in its staging and inspiration in its audience. I hope the tour will provide the same kind of imagination.”

Alice King-Farlow, Director of Learning at the National Theatre said: “We’re delighted to be touring this award-winning play to schools, and via our Theatre Nation Partnership with The Lowry, we hope that bringing Simon Stephen’s brilliant Curious Incident to young audiences in the Greater Manchester area will help to spark imaginations and encourage participation in theatre.”

The cast includes Shiv Jalota, Kathryn McGarr, Nick Pearse, Chereen Buckley, Caroline Parker, Matt Wilman, Suni La and Kieran Garland.

The production is designed by Olivier and Tony Award-winner Bunny Christie and Tony Award-winning lighting designer Paule Constable. Movement is by Scott Graham and Olivier Award-winning Steven Hoggett for Frantic Assembly, music by Adrian Sutton (who also composed music for War Horse) and sound by Ian Dickinson for Autograph. The Associate Director is Anna Marsland.