PolyArts opens the 2026-27 season on Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24 with the Grades 11-12 play The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, written by Simon Stephen and based on the Mark Haddon novel of the same name.

About the Play

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is an exploration of the touching and bleakly humorous tale of 15-year-old Christopher, his neighbor’s dog, and how best to venture out into the adult world. Christopher’s journey isn’t just about solving a neighborhood mystery, it’s about proving to himself that he can brave the unknown and conquer terrifying new territories.

“Opening our season with [this play] feels especially poignant,” said Performing Arts Chair Ashley Hacker. “At its heart, this story follows Christopher navigating a world that wasn’t built with his unique perspective in mind. Our Upper School students are also finding themselves navigating overwhelming environments, while trying to make sense of and prepare for the adult world around them… Both Christopher and our students are actively learning to trust their own minds, seek independence, and recognize that everyone is wonderfully flawed and human.”

The themes of both the book and the play stuck with director Mariko Watt from a young age herself.

“I first read Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time in college,” said Mariko. “For years, it was on my list of favorite books, and the raw emotion that I remember feeling for Christopher as he struggled with his intense family dynamics obviously left a mark.” 

For a show that mainly takes place in the main character’s mind, Mariko and her creative team had a technical challenge ahead of them.

“To bring Christopher’s world to life, our show embraces the play’s structure of rapid, impressionistic mini scenes,” Mariko said. “Through ensemble movement, dynamic lighting, immersive soundscapes, and expressive projection, our cast and creative team transform a spare stage into a vibrant sensory universe. [The audience] will experience both the terrifying sensory overload of a bustling train station, and the serene mathematical beauty of the stars through Christopher’s eyes.”

Creating with Care

Christopher’s eyes will offer the audience a new perspective as well. The fifteen-year old main character has an extraordinary brain; he is exceptionally intelligent but ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. He has difficulty managing the sounds and stresses of daily life, and avoids physical contact. 

Both director Watt, and Isaac W. ’28, who plays Christopher, wanted to approach the character with care and empathy. 

“Though neither the novel nor the play clinically labels Christopher, his experiences resonate deeply with the autism spectrum and the broader neurodivergent community,” Mariko said. “Ensuring that we were able to approach this with honesty and tact was important to me, and I wanted to include as many authentic voices as possible in the process of developing Christopher’s character.”

“It’s unlike anything I’ve ever done on stage before,” said Isaac. “Ms. Watt and I did a lot of research to try to make the portrayal as accurate as possible. We didn’t want to make a caricature out of it. It’s probably the most challenging role I’ve ever had to play. But it’s also been a lot of fun and a great joy to explore this community that I myself am not a part of. I’ve enjoyed learning about it.”

The three other main characters, Ed, Judy, and Siobhan, his parents and friend, will be played by Nicolai F. ’27, Chloe E. ’27, and Val A. ’28. Those characters are also dealing with challenges, like living in Christopher’s reality, and trying to support his life-changing journey. All three actors mentioned the vulnerability the roles took, the research they did, and the real-life experiences they drew from as they developed their performances.

But above all, everybody in the show hopes that the audience will leave their show with a new perspective of the world, and the people around them.

“I think at its heart, at the center of the show, is just pure humanity,” Isaac said. “It’s the idea that you might not know someone’s background when you’re talking to them. You may not know what’s going on with them, regardless of if it has to do with how their brain works or not.”

“What I want audiences to take away from the show is the intimacy of being understood and seen,” Val said. “And also the power of subtle mentorship that does more listening than anything else. It’s less focused on trying to steer someone in a certain direction, but rather supporting them through their journey from the sidelines, just being a supportive presence.”

“Beyond the mystery of Wellington the dog, this is a story about trust, family, courage, and resilience,” Mariko said. “It asks us to look outward into our own community. How do our schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods support individuals whose brains work differently? How can we move toward active inclusion and celebration? Poly has a vibrant community, and the commitment to accessibility, belonging, and equal opportunity shows us the way forward.”

Reserve Your Tickets

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Families are asked to register to attend the Grade 11 and 12’s Fall Play, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time on Friday, October 23 at 7:00 PM and Saturday, October 24 at 2:00 PM in the Poly Arts Center’s Richard Perry Theatre. Tickets are free for students and children; $5 for adults.