Nottingham Theatre Royal – until Saturday 17th October 2026
Reviewed by Louise Ford
5*****
Lots of things are mysteries.
Last night’s production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time was a Gentle Performance. This meant that the lights would be turned down but not turned off, and any frightening or worrying scenes would be signposted by a low rumbling sound. This announcement was made by Chris’s teacher, Siobhan (Bridgette Amofah), it seemed to resonate with the audience who were predominantly young. The book is a GCSE set text, which is studied as a stage play, adapted by Simon Stephens. It was lovely to go to a production with a young and lively audience. There was a real buzz and energy in the theatre. They were all so engaged with the production.
The original book by Mark Haddon was published in 2003 and at the time was groundbreaking in that the story is told from the perspective of Chris Boone, a 15 year old who is neurodivergent. It takes its title from a line in Sherlock Holmes’s The Adventure of Silver Blaze. The master detective is one of Chris’s heroes. The book was adapted in 2013 for the stage to international acclaim, winning several Olivier Awards and a Tony when it transferred to Broadway. The current adaptation is by Simon Stephens and is directed by Ned Bennett for Birmingham Rep.
The story is, on one level, a murder mystery (just who did kill the eponymous dog?) with Chris as the detective aiming to solve the mystery. On another level, it is a study of a family in crisis and, finally, and perhaps its USP, it is told from the perspective of a neurodivergent adolescent who is struggling to make sense of the world.
In this production, the role of Chris has been rejigged so that Chris is a teenage girl. The part was played by Alex Keenan (alternating with Imi Price), both of whom are neurodivergent. In last night’s performance, it was Alex who was on the stage for the whole evening. She was amazing. She was able to draw us into her world and show us how absurd and confusing the “normal“ world is. From not only how adults behave, to the language that we use, to the overwhelming signage and noise, once we leave our home.
The sense of chaos and confusion is contrasted with the order and safety of home. However, even everyday objects, when projected onto the screen, make them seem threatening and strange. The video backdrop is by Hayley Egen. The largely bare staging is by Eleanor Bull. At times, the stage is crowded with people and props and at others, it is a simple row of cartoon houses. The scenes in the underground are particularly effective. The chaos and confusion are further enhanced, and add a surreal element, by bouncing yellow balls and tumblers doing cartwheels.
Siobhan is Chris’s trusted adult and helps her (and us) to navigate the world. Siobhan appears to have endless patience and understanding. Whereas Chris’s parents (played by Joe McFadden (Ed) and Charlie Brooks (Judy)) have their own issues to navigate. Family life is messy and chaotic. The parents make mistakes, and their actions show that they cannot always deal with their own lives. Chris’s lawn-mowing neighbour is Mrs Alexander (Alex Murdoch), she is kind and provides valuable details about the neighbourhood.
The production is a refreshing look at a much-loved story. It uses a lot of different theatrical devices (lighting, sound, visual) to highlight the chaos of modern life through a neurodivergent lens. From the start, we are invested in Chris and her courage to travel through an unpredictable world and to solve the mystery. We are also delighted that she succeeds with her exams, and whilst she may not become an astronaut, she’ll certainly have a brilliant career as a scientist.
I can do anything!