A Curious Evening of Theatre for Drama Students

On Wednesday 16 September, 55 Drama students from Year Ten to the Upper Sixth travelled to Birmingham Rep to see an innovative new staging of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

Adapted for the stage by Simon Stephens from Mark Haddon’s acclaimed novel, the production follows a neurodivergent central character as he sets out to solve a mystery. The visit offered the group the opportunity to explore how performance, staging and design can be used to communicate a character’s experience and perspective.

The group was particularly interested in the production’s sensory-friendly approach. Through an inventive combination of performance conventions and design concepts, the staging complemented the themes of neurodivergence explored within the play while also considering accessibility for a neurodiverse audience.

Reflecting on the performance, students praised the production for “giving a strong message as to how people with autism navigate their lives”. The humour also proved popular, with one Year Ten pupil particularly impressed by the lead actor’s ability to keep a straight face during moments of slapstick comedy.

The visit provided an engaging opportunity for the group to experience contemporary theatre beyond the classroom and consider how creative choices in performance and design can shape an audience’s understanding of character and story.

Our thanks go to the Drama Department for organising the visit and to all 55 students for representing the School so well.