National Theatre Live started its cinema event with a brilliant adaption of Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time.
I decided to stray away from my usual topic of fashion to another great love of mine, cinema and the performing arts. National Theatre Live aim to be able to let people all around the country watch a stage performance from the comfort of their local cinema and they kicked this season off with a bang. On Thursday I was lucky enough to get the chance to watch the stage-play adaption of Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time at my own local Cineworld complex in Sheffield.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time is a much-loved children’s book published in 2003 and written by inspirational author, Mark Haddon. The book tells the story of 15 year (3 months and 3 days) old Christopher Boone who lives with autism. It begins with Christopher finding the body of his neighbour’s dog, Wellington, that has been stabbed to death with a garden fork, which, after a lot of ‘detecting’ turns out to be the least of his worries. The twists and turns this story takes are incomprehensible for a young autistic brain and yet so beautifully written we find ourselves falling into the shoes of Christopher and appreciate his way of dealing with things. The screen play adaption involves Christopher’s school teacher giving the idea of writing his story into a play, which is what we are watching.
After having previously read and loved the book, I was excited to have the opportunity to see the book brought to life without having to go down to London and I was not disappointed. The exciting and innovative way the stage was set out was different to anything I’ve seen before. The stage, a rectangle in the center of viewing platforms, gave a 360 degree view of the performance. On the stage floor, was a chalkboard grid with LEDs and projections on which throughout the performance, Christopher drew out diagrams and images to help us see the complexities and intricacies of how an autistic brain comprehends information. The props were kept to a minimal and with a cast of 9 people, this was an intimate affair.
The cast did have some familiar faces such as Paul Ritter as you may have seen as Martin on Friday Night Dinner, who played Christopher’s father and also Christopher’s teacher, Siobhan played by Niamh Cusack who you may have seen on the television in Heartbeat and more recently The Best of Men. But without a shadow of a doubt, the star of the performance was Christopher himself played by 28 year old Luke Treadaway. After starring in The Clash of the Titans, Attack the Block and Killing Bono, Treadaway took the time to truly learn how the autistic mind sees the world and the complex issues people with autism have in general day to day life. He played the part beautifully, and being someone who has a lot of experience when it comes to living with someone with severe autism, I thought Treadaway played this part believably and with a truth that only an experienced actor can portray.
Full of intensity, mystery and a few good laughs, Simon Stephens screenplay is a fantastic adaptation of a much loved book that will be enjoyed by many. Pick up your copy now here.
National Theatre Live: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Trailer
Via ntlive.com
