The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

On my opening night here in London, last Friday, I saw a performance of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at the Gielgud Theatre.

It was my first experience of the London theatre, and I enjoyed it: the Gielgud is a lovely old theatre, and I was in an inexpensive (£29) seat in the rafters that, despite its distance from the stage, provided me with a clear view of all the action.

I’d already read the novel, at the recommendation of my mother, and so I was anxious to see how it would be translated into play, as it’s essentially a monologue. I was not disappointed: the set is inventive, using projection, trap doors and drawers, and LEDs to create a malleable environment in what is otherwise an empty black box. Through a combination of narration, sollioquoy, and action, the story was told in a way that amplified the message of the book.