GCSE English Literature / Drama: Christopher and his Dad

Video summary

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

An exploration into the relationship between Christopher Boone and his Dad, Ed Boone, from 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time'.

It uses footage from the original National Theatre production depicting the tense relationship between father and son.

We gain an insight into Ed as a frustrated, angry and wounded man through the interview with an actor who has played the role.

Playwright Simon Stephens explains how it was important not to show Ed as a bad man.

We see the change in Ed at the end of the story, when he tries to re-gain Christopher’s trust, through footage from the play.

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.

PLEASE NOTE: There is footage from the theatre production showing Christopher fighting with his Dad, which some people might find upsetting.

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Teacher Notes

Encourage students to explore the relationship between Christopher and his dad when studying the novel as a set text, using this short film as a helpful guide.

Students could be tasked with analysing the character of Ed Boone, or the relationship between Christopher and his father, in detail.

If studying the play as a scripted piece, ask your students to explore the key relationships in the text, and scenes between Christopher and his father in particular.

If performing the play, this could be used to gain insight into how to portray the relationship between Christopher and his father.

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

The cast and creative team explore how they created moments of comedy and tension in the play.

Creating Comedy and Tension

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?

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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