TV stars swap soaps for the stage in Curious tale
Two TV favourites will take to the stage in Northampton when the wildly acclaimed show The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time heads to Leicester.
EastEnders favourite Charlie Brooks, best known for her long-running role as Janine Butcher, and Strictly Come Dancing winner Joe McFadden, known from Holby City and Heartbeat, will play Ed and Judy, the parents of the story’s protagonist, Chris. The boy is gifted with a brilliant mind for numbers but unsettled by the unpredictability of people and everyday life. When a neighbour’s dog is discovered killed, Chris comes under suspicion. But Chris becomes both detective and suspect, drawn into a mystery that grows darker and more complex with every clue uncovered.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is adapted by acclaimed Playwright Simon Stephens from Mark Haddon’s multi-million-selling novel and will be directed by Ned Bennett.
Charlie Brooks said: “I am thrilled to be part of this new production. Working alongside such a talented cast and creative team has been both inspiring and rewarding, and I cannot wait for audiences to experience the heart, humour and humanity at the centre of this remarkable play.”
Joe McFadden said: “I loved The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time when I first read it, and I was completely blown away by the stage production in the West End so I’m absolutely thrilled to be playing Ed in this new tour and can’t wait to bring this brilliant, moving and uplifting story to audiences across the UK alongside such a fantastic cast.”
Ned Bennett said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be directing this new production. Mark Haddon’s compassionate and extraordinary novel, and Simon Stephens’ moving, inventive, and imaginative adaptation, combine to create a complex play with remarkable emotional precision.”
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time premiered at the National Theatre in 2012 and immediately received widespread acclaim for its groundbreaking theatrical design, emotional storytelling and sensitive depiction of neurodiversity. It remains one of the most successful and acclaimed British plays of the 21st century and has been seen globally by more than five million people. The TImes called it “crowd-pleasing, life-affirming and unmissable”.
The play won seven Olivier Awards in 2013, equalling the then record, set by the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Matilda. The play debuted on Broadway at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre in 2014 and won five Tony Awards in 2015, including Best Play, Best Direction of a Play and Best Actor. Numerous tours and international productions have followed, including in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time runs at the Curve from Tuesday October 20 to Saturday October 24. Visit curveonline.co.uk or call 0116 242 3595 to book.