Produced by Kamloops Players and directed by Jay Goddard with a cast of 12, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time takes to the Pavilion Stage in early November.

Adapted by Simon Stephens from Mark Haddon’s award-winning novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time follows Christopher Boone, a teenager with an amazing mind and a unique way of understanding of the world, being on the autism spectrum.

The play opens with a mystery: Christopher discovers his neighbour’s dog, Wellington, dead in the garden, impaled with a pitchfork. Against his father’s warnings to stay out of other people’s business, Christopher decides to investigate, setting off a chain of events that uncover far more than he ever expected.

The production dives deep into themes of truth, trust, and family, while also looking at both the challenges and the triumphs of neurodiversity. Christopher is skilled in mathematics and logic which contrast with his struggles to navigate social and emotional situations, giving audiences a deeply human look at how one person sees and interprets the world around him.

Audiences will share a theatrical experience filled with mystery, movement, and meaning. Grab your magnifying glass and notebook, and watch as clues are revealed, answers gained, and drama unfolds in a night of secrecy, family relations, and theatrical spectacle.

Director Jay Goddard says, “This show is challenging in a positive way. I read the book and I work in the field with people with disabilities and autism. This play is about the complexities. Disabilities and autism can be portrayed very gratuitously or sympathetically. This show is more than that.”

Presented in a black box style, the production features a minimalistic yet constantly shifting set. Sometimes even the actors themselves are a part of the scenery. The design is a look into Christopher’s mind: intricate, imaginative, and ever in motion.

“It’s all in Christopher’s head,” says Goddard. “It’s his own version of the school play, and it is beautiful chaos.” There is a lot of movement in this show. The choreography is complex, and the dialogue is quick. The cast work together like a well-oiled machine, which is impressive.

Adding to the show’s complexities are more than 100 lighting cues, along with projections and visual effects that truly immerse the audience into Christopher’s imagination and point of view.

“There’s no punctuation in the script,” Goddard notes about the way it was written and how it captures Christopher’s thought patterns and inner rhythm. This helps with the steady imagination of Christopher, how he thinks, feels, and engages with the world around him.

Actor Etella Keenan, who portrays Christopher, embraces the challenge of the lead role with care and commitment. “It’s a learning curve,” she says. “All of Christopher’s mannerisms, the way he interacts with the world. I want to portray Christopher in the right way.”

Keenan also talked on the importance of representation and awareness. “I have a lot of friends just diagnosed in their 20s,” Etella shared. With autism diagnoses rising due to better screening and understanding, she sees the role as an opportunity to portray Christopher both authentically and respectfully.

The result is a production that is both technically intricate and a story beautifully and imaginatively told.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time runs November 5–9 at the Pavilion Theatre. Tickets can be purchased online at www.kamloopslive.ca.