Tribe Youth Theatre’s production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time tells this complex story from the perspective of autistic 15-year-old Christopher Boone as he investigates the killing of his neighbour's dog, Wellington.
Truly magnificent projections, precise and inspired music, and an excellent ensemble cast help build Christopher’s world and bring the story to life on stage.
Tribe Youth Theatre is dedicated to nurturing young talent and shaping them into excellent performers. As a result, the four lead actors in the current production have been double-cast. Depending on the show you attend, you will see either the White or Blue cast in the spotlight. On the media night, I attended, both casts performed, with the White Cast taking the stage for Act 1 and the Blue Cast for Act 2.
From the start of the play, the audience sees everything from Christopher's perspective, including his thoughts, knowledge of the situation, and emotions.
The production plays on Christopher's feelings of confusion and regularly leaves the audience feeling confused as well. It feels like there is something we are not being told, that we don’t know, which at times is frustrating, which must also be for Christopher.
As the story progresses, Christopher delves deeper into his investigation to find Wellington's murderer. Along the way, he uncovers long-held family secrets and confronts brutal truths about his life. All of this happens while he struggles to navigate a world that can be overwhelming, overstimulating, and challenging to understand.
Both actors who portrayed Christopher, Ewan Dellar and Wolf Asta did an excellent job in their role. While each actor had their own unique style, they both portrayed the character of Christopher with great skill and respect. They were able to accurately depict the challenges of having autism, being overstimulated, and experiencing meltdowns in an authentic and sensitive manner.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a challenging and profound theatrical production that may even prove to be a complex undertaking for seasoned actors. It delves into intricate themes such as parenting disabled children, relationship breakdowns, grief, and anger.
This is especially true for the young actors playing Christopher’s parents, Kira Collins and Ava Cossens as Judy, and Ryan Foxlow and Finn Cunningham as Ed. These teenagers are doing an exceptional job at portraying their roles authentically without the actual life experience.
Tribe Youth Theatre is known for taking on challenging material for their youth productions, and their latest show, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, is no exception. This play delivers an important message about neurodiversity, and how it can make living in a world designed for neurotypical individuals a daily challenge. The story also explores the impact of neurodiversity on the families of those affected. However, the play also highlights Christopher's unexpected abilities, showcasing how he can achieve things that many thought were impossible.
With Autism Acceptance Week scheduled on April 2-8 this year, the release of this production is timely to celebrate neurodiversity. The Curious Incident of The Dog in the Night-Time features several neurodiverse cast and crew, making it a celebration of our abilities. The aim is to help others understand us better and appreciate the uniqueness in each one of us.
The Curious Incident of The Dog in the Night-Time runs at the Patricia Lyon Black Box Theatre in Bendigo from April 4th - 14th 2024.
Comentarios