Tomorrow night, the smash-hit, multi-Olivier Award-winning show The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time returns to London. It wowed audiences in its first run with its unique and innovative set design and choreography, along with the touching story written by Mark Haddon.
You may have already seen it and want to see it again. Or this may be your chance to finally experience the ground-breaking production for yourself. Either way, here are seven facts you probably didn’t know about The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time.
The title was inspired by a Sherlock Holmes quote
The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time may not roll off the tongue, but it does evoke quite a picture. And that’s exactly how Mark Haddon felt when he read Arthur Conan Doyle’s Silver Blaze. Upon writing the consequent novel, he made the main protagonist, Christopher Boone, a rather big Sherlock fan, and references the fictional detective several times within the book.
Mark Haddon isn’t an expert
As the author wrote such a beautiful and vivid interpretation of a teenager with social disabilities, you would be forgiven for thinking that he had some personal connection or knowledge of the topic at hand. But you’d be wrong. He didn’t specifically research the autism spectrum to create the character. In fact, he didn’t do much research at all.
Mark has stated that if Christopher were to be diagnosed, he would have Aspergers. But as Aspergers is as individual as the people who experience it, he didn’t want to put much emphasis on it – thus it’s never mentioned in the narrative. Instead of following typical characteristics, Mark came up with a set of rules Christopher would live by.
It’s an award magnet
Since being published, the book has received more than 17 literary awards including the Costa Book Of The Year, Waverton Good Read Award and the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize to name but a few. Not only was the novel a winner, but the play was, too.
In 2013, The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time tied the record for most awards won at the Olivier Awards, taking home seven accolades. The awards included Best New Play, Best Director (for Marianne Elliott) and Best Actor (for Luke Treadaway). The record was broken in 2017 when Harry Potter And The Cursed Child received nine awards.
In 2015, the Broadway production won five Tony Awards. Again, this included Best New Play, Best Director (for Marianne Elliott) and Best Actor (for Alex Sharp).
It broke records
Not only did it tied the record for most Olivier Awards won, but when Alex Sharp won the Tony in 2015, he was the youngest performer to ever win the Best Actor In A Play award. He was 26 at the time.
The Piccadilly Theatre is its fourth London home
The stage adaptation of this remarkable story was first staged at the National Theatre in 2012. Due to critical acclaim and popular demand, it quickly transferred to the West End’s Apollo Theatre where it played for nine months before having to close due to the unexpected collapse of the theatre’s roof. The show resumed its West End run in July 2014, this time at the Gielgud Theatre where it remained until June 2017.
Prime numbers are… prime
Christopher’s love of prime numbers was reflected in the novel. Mark used them to number the chapters. In the play, the music is based on prime number sequences and rhythms.
Each pair of trainers is unique
Like most teenage boys, Christopher wears trainers. But unlike most productions, the actors who play him can pick their own style! As long as they’re blue, they’re good to go!