GCSE English Literature / Drama: Creating Comedy and Tension

Video summary

This short film is to support teaching around GCSE English Literature or Drama.

Moments of comedy and tension are explored in the National Theatre’s production of 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time', adapted for the stage by Simon Stephens from the novel by Mark Haddon.

It shows how placing Christopher on the stage whilst his mother reads aloud her letters about how hard she found life with him build tension into the scene.

In contrast to this, we see moments of comedy in the play.

Simon Stephens explains that many of the comic moments came directly from Mark Haddon’s writing.

We see the cast creating these comic moments on stage, such as the interaction between Mrs Alexander and Christopher.

Because Christopher sees things in a different way, the play is quirky and fun as well as being tense and emotional.

This short film is from the BBC series, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time: From Page to Stage, made in collaboration with the National Theatre.

It explores how Mark Haddon’s much-loved novel became a multi-award-winning theatre production.

Interviews with the playwright, director and cast and footage from both rehearsal and performance reveal the process of bringing the story alive on stage.

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Teacher Notes

This short film could be useful in looking at particular moments of tension when studying the novel as a set text.

Students could be encouraged to explore Haddon's use of humour and how it is translated to the reader.

Students could gain inspiration on how to perform moments of comedy and tension, and in particular, the scenes with Judy's monologues.

Students could also use this to examine how the actors worked together to create moments of comedy and tension if analysing the play as a piece of live theatre.

This short film is suitable for teaching GCSE English literature and drama in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and National 5 in Scotland.

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Through interviews with the director and designers, we learn how projection, lighting and sound come together to create atmosphere in the production.

Creating Atmosphere

A look at how the highly stylised set of the play was designed, featuring interviews with the director and designers.

Design Elements

The cast and creative team give us an insight into the use of ensemble acting, where a small group of actors play a large number of different parts.

Ensemble Acting

Playwright Simon Stephens explains the strategies he used in adapting the story of Mark Haddon’s novel into a script for his production at the National Theatre.

Adapting a Novel for Theatre

Scott Graham from theatre company, Frantic Assembly, explains what physical theatre is, and how it was used to create the original National Theatre production.

What is Physical Theatre?

An exploration of the relationship between Christopher Boone and his Dad, Ed Boone, using footage from the original National Theatre production of 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time'.

Christopher and his Dad

A look at the relationship between Christopher Boone and his Mum, Judy, through interviews with the actors and footage from the National Theatre production.

Christopher and his Mum

A look at the relationship between the characters of Christopher Boone and his teacher, Siobhan, played by Niamh Cusack in the National Theatre production.

Christopher and Siobhan

Playwright Simon Stephens explains the themes of the novel and play; family, love, honesty and truthfulness.

Themes

An exploration of the character Christopher Boone, from the actor and director who originated the role in the National Theatre production of 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time'.

Who is Christopher Boone?

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