It has been speared with a garden fork. It is nearly midnight and Christopher is under suspicion. Christopher has Asperger Syndrome (AS) and although he has never ventured alone beyond the end of his road, he decides to turn detective and sets out on a journey that will turn his world upside-down. Ms O’Connor and Mr Pithers set off to London with 40 Drama and Theatre Studies GCSE and A Level students to watch a performance of the National Theatre’s production, which has recently transferred to the West End. Ms O’Connor had already seen the production when it first came out and thought that it would be an exciting and challenging piece for the girls to see, as it would give them plenty to write about in the ‘Responding to live theatre’ units in their examinations. Having lulled them all into a false sense of security with a wonderful supper at Bella Italia they all headed to Shaftesbury Avenue to take their seats in the stalls at The Gielgud. Although there had been a couple of cast changes the play did not disappoint. It is a highly technical production not just in terms of the set, which is deceptively simplistic and reminiscent of a giant circuit board, but also in regard to the performances as the ten-strong cast multi-roll their way through a list of 45 characters! It is an innovative, challenging, lively, funny and at times deeply moving story, which manages to stay close to the novel and at the same time bring a fresh perspective. It was a highly successful trip and made all the more enjoyable by the enthusiastic response from the girls who in turn were immaculately behaved, a credit to the school and a real delight to take out!
