The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time

Butter Side Up TC founded in 2016 by Becky Clearly and Michael Hudson with a clear vision of creating a theatre troupe with the aim of amplifying underrepresented voices, championing LGBTQ + talent and fostering a supportive environment of artistic growth for adults around Sheffield and local areas. They continually strive to present somewhat lesser known but seriously poignant productions with real life situations at the fore. 

The production centers around 15-year-old Christopher Boone who discovers a neighbour’s dog has been killed, he sets out to find the culprit, his incredible mathematical brain and precise manner exploring all avenue’s in very different ways. The play explores many aspects of autism and Neurodiversity.

The set is simplistically laid out with three seats set stage right and three further ones set left, positioned diagonally, to the back wall projections of Pythagoras interspersed with city and town scenes. The stage marked out with a chess board effect.

The cast was made up of 4 named actors and a further six,initially seated on the previously aforementioned seating. The six seated were aptly named Voice 1 ,2,3,4,5 and 6 and performed by Becky Cleary – Holland, Michael Hudson, John Ashmore, James Wainwright, Lauren McCormick and Alison Brelsford. All six of these characters played an array of cameoparts, interlinking with the main story, predominantly remaining on stage but simply adding a jacket, a helmet and other subtle clothing changes. Each delivered with clarity and great stage presence. The six also moved the set boxes around, simply and efficiently allowing the play to move seamlessly through scene to scene.

The part of Christopher Boone played by Anthony Garbett who was clearly absorbed by the character and performed to such a high degree that he actually became Christopher. One of the largest and wholly submersive roles I have seen undertaken not simply by the pure volume of words but by the physical reactions to almost every situation. Acting out scenes of fear, love, being touched, lying on the floor screaming, being obsessed by situations of uncleanliness and so much more. 

Siobhan performed by Georgia Deith, positioned front stage right, part narrator part teacher, cleverly kept the production moving along whilst effectively reading the book interspersed with excellent scenes with Christopher. A part requiring depth, calm and compassion and delivered to the highest degree, I really enjoyed your visual interactions out to the audience, the fourth wall, then switching back to your teacher role. 

Christopher’s Dad performed by Connor Varley, showed real emotion whilst trying to support and deal with all of Christopher’s difficulties, a man having been left by his wife, juggling work and family, sometimes quite cruel but underneath it all, sympathetic and supporting, wanting the best for his son. A character torn at times, but then showing genuine hurt at not always being able to deal with his family situations. 

Caz Coulthard played the part of Judy, Christopher’s mother who had run away to London, torn between leaving her husband and son to start a new life but on being reacquainted with Christopher sees what a massive hole she had left by leaving. A well performed role showing real motherly love finally sacrificing her new life to return to her son.

The production team headed up by Harry Lynch-Bowers must be complimented for their direction and vision in this play with so many real life situations to perform. Finding the balance between real life and performance is never easy but I felt all aspects of thought, care and direction had been explored and performed to the highest order. 

Thank you to the whole cast for this excellent production which received the well-deserved standing ovation. 

Philip Smith

Noda N E District 6 Regional Rep

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