Edmonton’s Citadel Theatre is currently producing the Canadian debut of “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,” Simon Stephens’ Olivier and Tony Award-winning play.

The co-production, with Winnipeg’s Royal Manitoba Theatre Company, runs in Edmonton through Oct. 9th. The Winnipeg engagement runs from Oct. 20th to Nov. 12th.

Edmund Stapleton as Christopher

Citadel artistic director Bob Baker says “Together with the RMTC, we have campaigned hard to secure the rights to co-produce the Canadian premiere of this astonishing new play and we are thrilled to open our 51st season with it.”

This will be a newly designed and staged production directed by Heidi Malazdrewich, a Winnipeg-based director, actor, and theatre educator.

Malazdrewich recently directed the comedy “Myth of the Ostrich” at the RMTC which received glowing reviews. Malazdrewich holds an MFA in directing from the University of Calgary and has taught theatre at The University of Manitoba and the University of Winnipeg.

Based on Mark Haddon’s beloved international bestselling novel, Simon Stephens’ dramatic adaptation has equally become a universal sensation.

The play tells the powerful tale of a 15-year-old autistic genius who seeks to solve a mystery when he is wrongfully accused of killing a neighbor’s dog.

Citadel’s Cast Includes:

David Keeley
Keeley originated the role of Sam in the Broadway production of “Mamma Mia.” Keeley is a veteran of The Stratford Festival having played everything from Jud in “Oklahoma” to Flores in “Fuente Ovejuna.”

Cherissa Richards
Richards studied theatre at York University, performed at the Shaw Festival and played daughter Vivie Warren to “Grand Dame” Seana McKenna’s Mrs. Warren in the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre’s production of “Mrs. Warren’s Profession” directed by Alisa Palmer.

Edmund Stapleton
Stapleton is originally from Newfoundland, with an acting degree from the University of Alberta, and experience at the Shaw Festival and theatres across Canada.

Patricia Zentilli
Zentilli grew up in Halifax, studied clowining in Switzerland and lived in West Africa. She appeared in the critically acclaimed film “New Waterford Girl” and has performed at theatres across Canada.

In London, the Royal National Theatre’s world-premiere production opened at the Cottesloe Theatre in August 2012 and went on to tie the record for most wins at the UK’s prestigious Olivier Awards, receiving seven including Best New Play (It actually holds the record for most Oliviers won by a drama. It equaled the number of Oliviers won by “Matilda,” the musical).

Broadway Production

On Broadway, “Curious” swept the dramatic categories at the 2015 Tony Awards with five including “Best Play.” It also was named Best Play by the Drama Desk, Drama League and Outer Critics Circle.

Writing in The New York Times Ben Brantley noted “Christopher’s maiden voyage into an alien metropolis becomes a virtuoso study in sensory overload. Those lights, noises, street signs, road maps, random words that spell themselves into being, and, oh yes, that moving staircase that materializes out of nowhere: it all keeps coming at you, to the point that you expect your mind to give up and shut down.”

Details, Details
“The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time”
Adapted by: Simon Stephens
Directed by: Heidi Malazdrewich
Starring: Edmund Stapleton, David Keeley, Patricia Zentilli, Cherissa Richards

Edmonton’s Citadel Theatre: through Oct. 9
Call 780-425-1820 | Click citadeltheatre.com

Winnipeg’s Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre: Oct. 20 – Nov. 12
Call 204-956-1340 | Click http://royalmtc.ca
Photos: David Cooper

with files from Dennis Kucherawy