Grand Theatre and National Theatre to bring The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time to Wolverhampton schools
Following the success of last year’s nationwide schools tour, a specially staged version of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time will be seen by five secondary schools across Wolverhampton.
In partnership with Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, the tour forms part of the National Theatre’s drive to introduce new audiences to theatre, in a three-year partnership working with local theatres and schools.
The tour will visit Khalsa Academy, Ormiston New Academy, St Peter's Collegiate School, King's School and Ormiston Sheffield Community Academy from September 30.
The 90-minute version of the play is performed in the round and will be followed by a Q&A session for students with the professional company.
The tour is accompanied by a learning programme which includes professional development for teachers led by the NT and Curious Incident movement directors Frantic Assembly, as well as curriculum-based resources and workshops.
Alice King-Farlow, director of learning at the National Theatre said, “The National Theatre is committed to increasing opportunities for students in Wolverhampton to see live theatre.
"Simon Stephens' brilliant play The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a fantastic first experience of theatre and we know from last year’s tour that seeing a live professional production in your own school hall can have real impact.
"We’re delighted that more students across Wolverhampton will experience the production in their school this year, and we’re working closely with Wolverhampton Grand to engage with new audiences and to build relationships between schools and their local theatre.”
Claire Hampton at the University of Wolverhampton, which hosted local schools to watch the production, said, “The performance of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time was spectacular.
"It was an excellent opportunity for our students to see the highest quality of work delivered in a space that is familiar to them.”
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time brings Mark Haddon’s best-selling novel to life on stage, adapted by two-time Olivier Award-winning playwright Simon Stephens and directed by Olivier and Tony Award‑winning director Marianne Elliott.
The novel has won more than 17 literary awards and is widely studied in schools. Simon Stephens’ adaptation is a set text for GCSE English Literature.
The play tells the story of Christopher John Francis Boone, a 15-year-old boy who sets out to solve the mystery of who killed Mrs Shears' beloved dog Wellington.
The full cast includes Cayvan Coates, Lily Knight, Marcia Lecky, Nicola McRoy, Evan Milton, Chris Nayak, Nick Pearse and Nadia Williams.
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