OLIVIERS 2013: In Praise Of CURIOUS INCIDENT

As much as The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time was only one of the excellent plays staged at The National Theatre this year - remember how delightfully ridiculous She Stoops to Conquer was? And did anyone not leave Can We Talk About This? with thoughts and emotions ablaze? - it really was excellent. Director Marianne Elliott seems to have effortlessly translated the Cottesloe's "in the oblong" production into the Apollo Theatre's space, perhaps sealing the deal for this original script's enduring success.

So far, this is a happy literary and theatrical story: in 2003 Mark Haddon penned an immensely
clever yet accessible novel. Then, thanks to The National Theatre's funding from Arts Council
England, renowned playwright Simon Stephens was able to gradually develop it into a script, utilising a long workshop process and movement direction from the acclaimed physical theatre company Frantic Assembly.

The result really is wonderful: a surreal, beautiful and terrifying world, allowing the audience to just marvel at what is to most a simple and obvious story. Luke Treadaway is quite
astonishing as Christopher - his Olivier for Best Actor in a Play is extremely well-deserved, as are the other six awards the play won. This production demonstrates immense talent and imagination - it is arguably the best of contemporary British theatre. I just hope that cuts to arts funding are ceased and that artistically brilliant and economically profitable productions like Curious Incident can continue to be staged.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time is currently playing at the Apollo Theatre; the
production won the following Oliviers, equalling Matilda's record number of wins:
Best actor in a play - Luke Treadaway
Mastercard best new play
Best director - Marianne Elliott
Best actress in a supporting role - Nicola Walker
White Light award for lighting design - Paule Constable
Best sound design - Ian Dickinson and Adrian Sutton
XL Video Award for best set design - Bunny Christie and Finn Ross

Oh, and if you do go, don't leave until he's done his Maths. Confetti!

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