When tickets went on sale for the Australian premiere of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, it became the fastest-selling production in Melbourne Theatre Company history. Now it's Sydney's turn: the record-smashing National Theatre production will open at the Roslyn Packer Theatre on July 4.
Adapted by award-winning British playwright Simon Stephens from Mark Haddon’s 2003 novel, the hi-tech production brings to stage one of the most compelling literary protagonists of the noughties: 15-year-old Christopher John Francis Boone, a self-described “mathematician with some behavioural difficulties" whose unusual way of looking at the world makes him particularly well-suited to solving the mystery of who murdered his neighbour’s dog.
When the play opened on the West End in 2013, it won seven Olivier Awards, equalling the record set by Matilda - the Musical for the most awards given to a single production. When it opened on Broadway the following year, it won five Tony Awards and became the longest running play on Broadway in a decade.
The Sydney production will feature a British and Irish cast led by Joshua Jenkins, who wowed Time Out Melbourne at this weekend's opening. He's played Christopher for several years, first in the production's UK tour. Our critic wrote of his performance: "But it is Jenkins who carries the play, and he does it with loads of charm and depth. Effortlessly nailing the adolescent wilfulness of this boy of 15, he also manages to suggest the man he will become."
Jenkins is joined by Emma Beattie (Judy), Stuart Laing (Ed), and Julie Hale (Siobhan).
The Sydney season is part of an Australian tour that will also visit Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide and Perth. Tickets for all dates are on sale this Friday January 19 at 4pm.