The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Adapted by Simon Stephens
Produced by: Barnstaple Musical Comedy & Dramatic Society
Performed at: The Venue
Directed by: Callum Michael
NODA Rep: Stephen Fudge
Seen on: Thursday 27 th November 2025

I was genuinely excited to be invited back to The Venue to see BMCDS perform The Curious
Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. This marked my first experience of this powerful piece
of theatre, and having heard so much about the production over the years, I was incredibly
eager to finally see it brought to life on the stage. Once again, I received a wonderfully warm
welcome from Sue and Graham and the rest of the Front of House team – hospitality that
you consistently deliver so well.
The moment I stepped into the auditorium, my attention was immediately drawn to the pre-
set (and I do love a pre-set). The stage was striking in its simplicity: a fairly blank space with
the image of a dead dog centre stage, a pitchfork protruding from it, and a single central
spotlight focusing our attention uncomfortably but powerfully on the poor animal.
Surrounding the stage were eight white boxes which later cleverly came into their own,
alongside a blackboard positioned centre stage and two projector screens on either side of
the performance space – both of which were used to great effect as the production unfolded.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time follows the story of fifteen-year-old
Christopher Boone, a highly intelligent man who experiences the world in a very unique way.
When he discovers his neighbour’s dog, Wellington, dead with a garden fork, Christopher
decides to investigate the mystery himself. What begins as a simple detective-style enquiry
soon develops into a deeply personal journey as he uncovers truths about his family, his
past and the world around him. As Christopher pushes beyond the boundaries of his
carefully constructed life, the story explores themes of trust, courage, neurodiversity, family
relationships and independence. It is a powerful, emotional and often surprisingly uplifting
piece of theatre, balancing moments of humour with deeply moving human connection.

Technical effects
What struck me immediately from a technical perspective was the sheer scale of the
production in terms of scene changes – over 40 in total – and I was incredibly impressed
with just how smoothly and confidently these were handled throughout the performance. The
precision required to maintain pace and clarity across so many transitions was no small task,
yet the technical team rose to the challenge superbly.
There were a few minor lighting imbalances very early on, but these were quickly resolved,
and from that point forward the lighting became a real strength of the production. It was
consistently impactful and sensitively matched to the mood and intention of each individual
scene, helping guide the audience seamlessly through Christopher’s world.

The use of projection screens was incredibly effective and played a vital role in establishing
location and context throughout the show. This was a very clever approach to scene
changes with minimal physical effort, allowing the story to move at pace without
unnecessary interruption, and it contributed hugely to the overall flow of the production.
Sound and music effects were spot on during key moments, with excellent choices that were
executed cleanly and confidently. The space sequence in particular stood out as a superbly
realised moment where sound, lighting and projection worked together to powerful effect. I
also loved the use of the sheet to create the sea during the beach scene – a simple yet
beautifully effective piece of theatrical storytelling.
The train station scene was fantastic. This was well choreographed and executed with great
precision, and at no point were we in any doubt as to where we were. The white boxes were
used very cleverly throughout the production, transforming into multiple scenic elements with
imagination and consistency. Props were excellent and very well-rehearsed in their use,
reinforcing the confidence and clarity of the technical storytelling across the entire show.

Christopher Boone
This truly was a tour de force performance! You delivered a superb and fully convincing
character throughout, remaining captivating from start to finish. Your stimming was flawlessly
consistent and entirely believable, adding real authenticity to your portrayal. The way you
mastered the fluctuating bond between both parents was handled with great sensitivity and
control, allowing the audience to fully invest in those relationships. The sense of peril you
created during the London sequence was palpable, and I found myself genuinely on the
edge of my seat as you navigated through that intense challenge. An outstanding piece of
work.

Siobhan
You built a strong sense of trust and bond with Christopher, which was beautifully played and
felt completely natural. Your gentle, supportive style suited this character perfectly and
allowed the audience to clearly understand your role as both guide and stabilising influence
in his world. You also handled the narrator-style elements of the role effectively, helping to
move the story forward with clarity and reassurance. Your sensitivity truly shone through,
and your stage presence was strong and assured throughout – a lovely performance.

Ed Boone
You felt a little uncertain in the early stages, and at times I felt a stronger sense of
punctuation in your line delivery upon entering scenes would have given the character more
gravitas and allowed you greater pace to thrive from. There was also a moment where a line
or two was lost following audience laughter – in these situations it is always worth allowing
the response to breathe and then riding that laughter like a wave, picking up the line up as it
naturally subsides. That said you grew into your character very well as the production
developed, and your moments of frustration were portrayed with real honesty and strength.
Your confession scene in particular was incredibly touching and wholly believable, delivering
one of the most emotionally resonant moments of the evening.

Judy
I genuinely could not believe that this was your first time back on stage since GCSE, as you
came across with the confidence and assurance of someone who performs regularly.

You truly shone in this role. Your portrayal was excellent, and the emotional pain you
experienced was deeply felt by the whole audience. This is a challenging role with many
layers to explore, and you balanced those complexities beautifully throughout the
performance.

Roger/Duty Seargeant/Mr Wise
What a journey you took the audience on through this role – from the affair that led to a
relationship with Judy, to being suddenly thrown into an entirely new family dynamic when
Christopher arrives. In equal measure, I found myself feeling both a sense of karma and
genuine sympathy for you, which speaks strongly to the honesty of your portrayal. Your
versatility in taking on multiple roles – six in total – was impressive, and while there were one
or two projection issues early on, particularly in the role of the Policeman, these were soon
overcome You really went to town on the role of Roger, delivering a solid and engaging
performance throughout.

Mrs Shears/Mrs Gascoyne
You took us on a real rollercoaster of emotions throughout the evening – from the harrowing
opening moment surrounding your poor dog, to the delightfully hilarious Mrs Gascoyne. Your
versatility was a real joy to watch. You had me in absolute stitches as the “human ATM”,
delivering that moment with perfect comic timing and physicality. You proved yourself to be
both a deeply accomplished actress in serious material and a wonderful comedy performer
in equal measure. A superb display of range – well done.

Mrs Alexander/Posh Woman
You brought a real strength of presence to the stage, and your diction was absolutely
flawless throughout, ensuring every word was clearly delivered. You struck a genuine and
believable bond with Christopher, which felt honest and naturally developed, adding real
warmth to your scenes together. My only observation was that use of the walking stick
appeared a little awkward at times, and I did wonder whether it was needed at all, as it
occasionally distracted from an otherwise very assured performance.

Number 40/Lady in street/Punk Girl
You brought real fun and infectious energy to the stage, and every time you appeared you
immediately grabbed the audience’s attention. You fully committed to each of the characters
you played, giving each one a clear identity and purpose. Your confidence, variety and
enthusiasm shone through – a thoroughly engaging and enjoyable performance. Well done.

Policeman 1/Mr Thompson
You were very much part of the backbone of this production, alongside your other ensemble
responsibilities, and your contribution helped support the structure and flow of the show
throughout. As the Policeman, there was a slight lack of projection in your early scene;
however, when you later appeared in the train station during the rescue sequence, these
issues had completely disappeared. Your growth in confidence was clear, and it was great to
see performance strengthen so noticeably as the production progressed.

Uncle Terry/Station Policeman
You were a key part of the ensemble, providing unwavering support to the production
throughout – and that consistency is to be commended. There were a couple of occasions
where projection was a little strained, and when switching between musical performance

(supported by amplification) and straight drama, it is important to consciously adjust when
relying on natural voice projection alone.
That said, you carry a naturally commanding presence in your performance, something I
have noticed with you in other productions as well. You truly do command the stage
whenever you appear – a quality that cannot be taught and is certainly not attributed to
everyone. This is a real strength within your performance toolkit.

Reverend Peters/ Station Guard
You delivered an integral ensemble performance, and roles such as yours are crucial to
enabling productions of this scale and complexity to succeed. Your appearance as the
reverend felt a little low on confidence, and yet I can see such clear potential within your
performance. I would love to see you lean much more fully into your characters in future, as
you are often someone who can steal a scene in these cameo moments when you truly
commit. That said, there is real energy about you waiting to be unleashed, and I very much
look forward to seeing that continue to grow.

‘Sandy’
I simply cannot go without mentioning you. You completely stole the show and what an
absolute delight it was to see you appear right at the end of the performance. You are just an
adorable little dog and brought a wonderful, unexpected burst of joy to the closing moments.
A true scene-stealer – woof-tastic work!

Director
This was a highly ambitious and technically demanding production to take on, and it was
clear that a great deal of vision, preparation and care went into bringing The Curious Incident
of the Dog in the Night-Time to the stage. The complex structure, large number of scenes
and physical storytelling were handled with confidence, and the clarity of narrative remained
strong throughout.
The emotional journey of the play was sensitively drawn, particularly through the central
performance, which was clearly shaped with care. Strong visual composition, disciplined
ensemble work and inventive use of staging and multimedia all reflected well on the
direction. As with any large-scale production, continued focus on vocal projection across the
company will only enhance clarity and impact, and being bold in assessing whether certain
props fully serve the storytelling — and cutting where necessary — will further strengthen
future work. I would also like to acknowledge and congratulate the Assistant Director Liv for
their contribution to this production, which clearly played an important role in supporting the
overall success of the team. Most importantly, the audience and I were fully engaged and
responded with genuine warmth and appreciation. This was a bold and assured piece of
direction and a significant achievement for BMCDS.
See you soon and best wishes.

Stephen Fudge

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