After the resounding success of Henfield Theatre Company’s “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time” last July, our local amateur dramatic society has decided to bring the critically acclaimed production back to The Henfield Hall stage. Winner of 7 Olivier Awards, including Best New Play in 2013, and based on the novel by Mark Haddon with adaptation for the stage by Simon Stephens, “Curious Incident” has been performed in the West End and on a tour of the World. Henfield Theatre Company were privileged to be one of the first amateur dramatic societies to be granted the licence and are thrilled to be bringing it back to the local stage again in March 2025.
Christopher Boone (played once again by Ven Malyon, who is himself autistic) is a 15-year-old mathematician, living a quiet life in his home town with his father. One night, he discovers his neighbour’s dog has been killed with a garden fork and he takes it upon himself to solve the mystery.
The play is seen from Christopher’s perspective, where we quickly learn he is neurodivergent. But this play is more about celebrating difference, understanding how it is to be an outsider, than it is about ‘labels’. With themes such as identity, family, adolescence, betrayal and death, the play quickly grabs its audience, and its power brings emotions that the audience find hard to avoid.
The same 9 strong cast members (alongside Ven are Emily Norman, Rebel Atkinson, Sarah Jenner-Jones, Helen Fyles, Jane Haines, Paul Crowe, Trevor Hodgson, and Malcolm Harrington) perform as an ensemble, interacting with Christopher as key people in his life but also representing his thoughts, his interpretations of everyday life and creating a multi-sensory approach, presenting Christopher’s unique and idiosyncratic take on the world.
As Director, Karen Blunden is keen for ‘curious’ audiences to again experience something a little different from the norm.... sometimes strange, often amusing, occasionally baffling, somewhat bizarre and surprising. She said, “I am hoping that, as well as everyone being thoroughly entertained, with some tears and plenty of laughter, our audience will leave the theatre with a better understanding and a raised awareness. I’d invite all of us to question our own views, judgements and pre-conceptions, and challenge ourselves ... looking particularly at how we interact with others we deem ‘different’. I want the message to be one of being kind, more patient, more helpful and always remaining ‘curious’.”
Mandy Ainsworth
Performances are at the Henfield Hall on Friday 28th and Saturday 29th March 2025 at 7.30pm. Tickets are priced at £12 each, and are on sale via www.henfieldtheatrecompany.com and at Stevens Estate Agents in Henfield High Street.