A dog, a pitchfork and a yearning for answers.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a story which revolves around Christopher Boone, a brilliant but socially challenged 15-year-old boy with a unique perspective on the world. When he discovers his neighbour’s dog murdered, he embarks on a journey to solve the mystery, defying his own limitations and uncovering dark family secrets along the way. The play delves into the mind of an extraordinary protagonist, using innovative staging and visuals to convey his sensory experience. It's a touching exploration of love, trust, and the power of human resilience in the face of adversity. On stage at Titchfield Festival Theatre from Monday 28 October 2024 to Saturday 2 November 2024.

Bradley Barlow, the director of the play, was interviewed by Simon Frost:

Simon: Why did you choose to direct this play?

Bradley: I was incredibly lucky to catch the original National Theatre production in 2012 with incredible actors like Nicola Walker, Una Stubbs, Niamh Cusack and Paul Ritter in the cast. Performed in the round with stunning physical theatre, projections and sound, it's no exaggeration to say it completely changed the way I looked at how you could create theatre and it's had a direct impact in the work I've created since then. I've since seen the play twice more in the West End and on tour and I feel incredibly honoured to have been asked by Titchfield Festival Theatre to take this play on - I really hope we can give our audience the same transformative and inspiring experience that I had.

Simon: How did you approach the portrayal of Christopher's autism spectrum disorder to ensure it was both accurate and respectful?

Bradley: As a parent with neurodivergent children, I know first-hand the misconceptions and challenges that this can bring. I've drawn on this personal experience, as well as those of our neurodivergent cast members, to make sure our portrayal of Christopher and the way he sees the world is not only accurate and respectful but also educates the audience that may only view the world through a neurotypical lens.

Simon: What were the biggest challenges and rewards in staging a play that explores a neurodivergent perspective?

Bradley: For people who know the original productions of the play, physical theatre and moments of sensory overload play a big part in representing the neurodiverse experience. Frantic Assembly's original choreography and Marianne Elliott's direction are so iconic that as a director, I'm given the great challenge of trying to meet those expectations while also exploring the text with fresh eyes, something I think we've found the right balance of.



Simon: How did you balance the need for dramatic tension with the desire to create a compassionate understanding of Christopher's character?

Bradley: The script is so brilliantly written that the compassion for Christopher just leaps off the page - he can be obstinate at times but seeing how he copes with a challenging world will hopefully endear him to audiences.

Simon: What do you hope audiences will take away from the play in terms of their understanding of autism and neurodiversity?

Bradley: I'd love the audience to come away feeling inspired and impressed by how we've represented people like Christopher and how they see the world. I'd hope people will gain an understanding of how neurodiverse people see the world and maybe consider what changes they can make to accommodate them and be more accepting.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time performs in the Oak Theatre, Titchfield Festival Theatre between 28 October to 2 November 2024. For more information including booking tickets please go to http://titchfieldfestivaltheatre.com/  or contact our Box Office on 0333 666 3366.

Good luck with the show, Bradley!