National Theatre Announces Final West End Performance of THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME

After nearly five successful years in London, the National Theatre today (9 December 2016) announced the final extension of its West End run of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, with 50,000 extra tickets on sale today. The last performance at the Gielgud Theatre will be on Saturday 3 June 2017, whilst the show continues its life elsewhere, with a 25 city tour of the UK and Ireland beginning in January 2017 and a North American tour continuing until September 2017.

The Olivier and Tony Award-winning play was adapted from Mark Haddon's best-selling book by Simon Stephens and directed by Marianne Elliott. It is the recipient of a record-breaking seven Olivier Awards, including Best New Play, Best Director, Best Design, Best Lighting Design and Best Sound Design - more Oliviers than any other single play in the history of the West End.

By 3 June 2017, Curious Incident will have played over 1,600 performances and been seen by over 1 million people in London, and almost 2 and a half million people world-wide. The original production opened at the NT's Cottesloe Theatre in September 2012, and transferred to the Apollo Theatre in March 2013 before transferring to the Gielgud Theatre in July 2014. Curious Incident ran at the Barrymore Theatre in New York from September 2014 until September 2016, winning five Tony Awards including Best Play and becoming the longest-running play on Broadway in over a decade.

The show tells the story of 15 year old Christopher Boone, who has an extraordinary brain; and is exceptional at maths while ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. He sets out to solve a mystery of who killed his neighbour's dog, but his detective work takes him on a frightening journey that upturns his world. The role of Christopher has been played by 18 actors since the show originally opened in London. Luke Treadaway, who originated the role at the National Theatre, received a 2013 Olivier Award for Best Actor and Alex Sharp won the Tony Award for Best Actor on Broadway.

National Theatre Executive Director, Lisa Burger said: 'Audiences in London and across the country have embraced Marianne Elliott's ground-breaking production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Our first tour of Curious Incident was seen by over 400,000 people, and we are delighted to be embarking on a second national tour, bringing the production to new audiences across the country. This 35 week tour of the UK and Ireland will begin in January 2017, and just this week, we welcomed the new company for their first day of rehearsals.'

Producer Kash Bennett added: 'We are so proud of the London production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and the incredible casts and crews who have brought the show to life night after night over the past five years. As we enter the final six months in London, we also look forward to continuing the show's extraordinary journey throughout the UK, Ireland, North America and beyond.'

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is designed by Bunny Christie, with lighting by Paule Constable, video design by Finn Ross, movement by Scott Graham and Steven Hoggett for Frantic Assembly, music by Adrian Sutton and sound by Ian Dickinson for Autograph.

The West End cast comprises of: Joseph Ayre as Christopher Boone with Jo Castleton as his teacher Siobhan, Nicolas Tennant as Ed, Sarah Stanley as Judy, Jacqueline Clarke as Mrs Alexander, Amanda Posener as Mrs Shears, Ross Waiton as Roger Shears, Matthew Trevannion as Mr Thompson, Gemma Knight Jones as No.40/Punk Girl, David Nellist as Reverend Peters, and nineteen year old Thomas Dennis is the alternate Christopher (the youngest actor ever to play Christopher). They are joined by Charleen Qwaye, Danielle Kassaraté, Philip Stewart, Matt Wilman and Penelope McGhie.

For more information visit www.curiousonstage.com.

Photo credit: Brinkhoff Mögenburg