The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Feature | A Curious History

By Sarah Corridon

An overiew and history of The National Theatre’s production The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

‘It’s a story about difference, about being an outsider, about seeing the world in a surprising and revealing way.’
Mark Haddon, Author

Mark Haddon’s novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-­Time was originally published in 2003. It was the winner of more than 17 literary awards, including prizes in Japan, Holland and Italy as well as the Whitbread ‘Book of the Year Award’ in the UK in 2004, Commonwealth Writers Prize 2004, and the New York Times Bestseller List. The novel has been translated into 44 languages and has sold in excess of 20 million copies worldwide.

The novel was adapted for the stage by Simon Stephens and directed by Marianne Elliott and premièred at the National Theatre in August 2012, where it was acclaimed by critics and audiences alike during its sell-­out run and set a new record with its NT Live broadcast to worldwide cinemas.

The show transferred to the West End in March 2013, winning a record-­breaking 7 Olivier Awards including Best New Play, Best Director, Best Design, Best Lighting Design and Best Sound Design – more Olivier Awards than any other play in the history of the West End, at the time. The show continued its smash-­hit run until 3 June, 2017.

A Broadway production opened at the Barrymore Theatre in September 2014, winning five 2015 Tony Awards® including Best Play, Best Direction, Best Scenic Design and Best Lighting Design. The show ran until September 2016, becoming the longest-­running play on Broadway in over a decade.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is designed by Bunny Christie, with lighting by Paule Constable, video design by Finn Ross, movement by Scott Graham and Steven Hoggett for Frantic Assembly, music by Adrian Sutton and sound by Ian Dickinson for Autograph.

Published on 28 August 2017

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