Information technology has been a ten-year journey for this product of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime-Fourth dimension, still packing in audiences across the country to run across the theatrical retelling of the all-time-selling Marking Haddon novel.

It's an achievement on many levels, not least because information technology's not the conventional sort of bums-on-seats show that nosotros are more used to seeing at a venue like the Opera House in Manchester.

It's also non a specially piece of cake watch - confronting as it does the painful and agonising heartbreaks of family life that all parents will be familiar with in one way or some other.

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Only in this vivid and magical National Theatre production, adapted for the phase by Stockport's Simon Stephens, we become a challenging and visceral retelling of the elementary beauty of the 2004 novel, a book so well-read that it is now deemed "the nation's favourite".

For those unfamiliar with the story, it is narrated past 15-year-quondam Christopher Boone, a young boy who has an extraordinary brain and loves maths and infinite, but finds the norms of life that most take for granted a petty more of a challenge. We acquire he does non like to exist touched and he has rarely ventured beyond the confines of his Swindon cul-de-sac.

David Breeds as Christopher at Manchester Opera House

The action starts with his shocking discovery of the neighbour's domestic dog with a rather large garden fork in its side. And it sets into motion his detective-like quest to discover exactly what happened, while we, the audience slowly unravel the complexities of the Boone family unit life.

A drama like this holds its audience with the skill and dedication of the actors, and in this production we have a complete ensemble production - with flashes of magic and comedy from the sidelines every bit much as from the leading roles.

Too, of grade, there'south the rather brilliant technical production on phase that manages to convey both a childlike simplicity with a space historic period hi-tech matrix.

On opening night David Breeds performs the role of Christopher with both the innocence of childhood and the physically and mentally bruising torment of a young adolescent.

A masterful production

We go with him on the most of import journey of his life in this show, seen to dazzling effect in the second half when the ensemble merge together to invoke the mayhem and thronging hordes in London'south Underground making the audience feel as if information technology is our get-go time, but as it is for young Christopher.

His father Ed, wrestling his own torment and love for his son, is brought to life on phase in a masterfully independent performance by Tom Peters, allowing the occasional eruption of rage.

Rebecca Root brings a lovely, measured and soothing tone as Siobhan, Christopher'southward teacher and as well as his over-arching inner voice and calming forcefulness. She manages to truly convey the magic of a good teacher-student relationship, through to the moving finale of Christopher finally getting to celebrate his bookish goal that ways the globe to him.

It might non be the usual all-singing and dancing finale we accept go accustomed to in this theatre - but here it is the raw and searing dazzler of the drama that ensured a standing ovation on opening night for a deserving cast.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time plays at Manchester Opera House until March 12 .

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