Review: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, Rotherham Civic Theatre

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time follows the story of Christopher, an extremely bright teenage boy who struggles with social interactions. It is heavily implied that he is autistic, although this is never explicitly stated. The story begins with Christopher finding the body of his neighbour’s dead dog and embarking on a quest to find out what happened, which unveils further secrets and revelations.

The set uses minimal staging, with almost all of the actors completely visible for the majority of the play, sitting on plain blocks, watching and reacting to the action when they are not in scenes. At the risk of being distracting, this emphasises the confusion of society for our protagonist and how he sees the world differently to others. Choreography from Frantic Assembly – a company which seeks to strip choreography back to its bare bones in order to portray truth – is simple yet dynamic and brings Christopher’s inner world to life. In addition, the use of graphics and lighting to highlight his moments of distress and the workings of his mind allow us a glimpse into how he approaches the world differently to the rest of the cast.

The performances from the whole company are fantastic. As well as points of tender emotion, they manage to capture many moments of humour. A special mention has to go to Niamh Adams, playing Mrs Shears and others, whose one liners are hilarious, with perfect comedic timing. Each character is extremely well fleshed out and Anthony Lancashire’s portrayal of Christopher’s exasperated, but ultimately loving, father is exceptionally well played. It is easy to feel sorry for him in one scene to then be frustrated with him in another when he displays a complete lack of patience and understanding towards Christopher’s quirks. He perfectly encapsulates the challenges that neurotypical parents can encounter when raising children who don’t see the world as they do.

Alexander Evans as Christopher is simply outstanding, offering a sensitive, believable and hugely inspiring portrayal. His ability to depict a young man with a lack of understanding of social cues, which often makes us laugh, as well as someone who is often extremely vulnerable, is absorbing to watch. In particular, his moments of distress are raw and moving.

In our current political landscape, where certain politicians have made false claims about SEND conditions, this fantastic production feels moving and timely, with powerful insight into neurodiversity.

Based on the novel by: Mark Haddon
Directed by: Elliot Montgomery and Debbie Evans
Produced by: Mark Oakley for Rotherham Amateur Repertory Company Ltd
Choreography by: Frantic Assembly

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time has completed its run at Rotherham Civic Theatre