The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time comes to the Storyhouse Theatre in Chester from Tuesday 16 to Saturday 20 March 2027. It's a stage adaptation of Mark Haddon's novel, which sold 10 million copies and later became a National Theatre production; this is a brand-new staging of that material, brought to the city by Melting Pot and the Birmingham Rep.

The story follows Christopher Boone, a 15-year-old maths genius who finds the unpredictability of people and everyday life unsettling. He becomes both detective and suspect when a neighbour's dog is found killed, and the play follows him as he tries to solve the mystery. It's written by Simon Stephens and directed by Ned Bennett, known for Equus, An Octeroon, and Yen. Stephens has spoken about wanting to work with Bennett for years, and described the original production as an 'utterly extraordinary landmark theatrical event'.

Joe McFadden and Charlie Brooks play Chris's parents, Ed and Judy, with a supporting cast that includes Alex Keenan, Alex Murdoch, Bridgette Amofah, Carla Garratt, Imi Price, Jerone Marsh Reid, Matthew Bulgo, Robert Penny, Sera Mustafa and Tom Clegg. The production has been praised for its theatrical design and its sensitive depiction of neurodiversity, and it blends the intrigue of a whodunnit with a coming-of-age story.

It runs in the Main Theatre on Northgate Street. There are six performances over five days: Tuesday 16 March at 7:30pm; Wednesday 17 March at 2:30pm and 7:30pm; Thursday 18 March at 7:30pm; Friday 19 March at 7:30pm; and Saturday 20 March at 2:30pm and 7:30pm. Each show runs about 2 hours 25 minutes, including an interval. Tickets are £28.50 to £52.80 for members and £31.50 to £58.50 for non-members.