Aadyam Theatre Season 7 to Premiere Atul Kumar’s The Curious Incident of The Dog in the Night-Time

Starting this November, with a carefully curated selection of five proscenium plays in Mumbai and Delhi, Season 7 promises to showcase theatre’s unmatched grandeur like never before. After staging over 25 productions and captivating more than 150,000 theatergoers since 2015, Aadyam Theatre continues to push artistic boundaries with a commitment to storytelling.

Aadyam Theatre’s raison d'être is to provide a portal to the fascinating world of live storytelling to theatre enthusiasts while introducing the craft to newer generations, offering an engaging year-long theatre experience. Nadir Khan and Shernaz Patel are the programming consultants and creative minds shaping Aadyam Theatre’s bold vision. This year’s lineup also honours renowned literary names like Fyodor Dostoevsky and Mark Haddon, alongside exciting original pieces.

These plays will be brought to life by distinguished talents, an interesting roster of seasoned veterans alongside emerging vibrant talents. Atul Kumar, a globetrotting artist, directs The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, a comedic drama about the nuances of family and relationships. Sunil Shanbag, a Sangit Akademi Award-winning director, stylises history through The Horse, a political comedy set in ancient Rome. Shubhro Jyot Barat helms Sleuth, a suspenseful drama blending imagination and reality. Purva Naresh returns to Aadyam Theatre after her rousing plays like ‘Bandish 20-20,000 HZ’ to direct Do Deewaney, an adaptation of Dostoevsky’s White Nights, delving into love and hope. Lastly, Nadir Khan, a leading voice in the industry, with courtroom dramas like ‘Twelve Angry Jurors’ to his credit, directs Mumbai Star, a dance musical about the rise of an artist, exploring the harrowing alleys of success.

The opening play of the season is the extraordinary adaptation of Mark Haddon’s acclaimed novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Adapted for the stage by Simon Stephens, it has received many accolades, including Olivier Awards and Tony Awards. Now, Atul Kumar will revive this literary piece on stage.

The story follows fifteen-year-old Christopher Boone, who goes undercover to investigate the mysterious death of Mrs. Pinto’s dog. Driven by curiosity and resilience, he unearths the truths and complexities of the world around and within on this profound journey. Atul will invite the audience into Christopher's heightened sensory world through projections, physical movements, and an evocative soundtrack.

This production boasts an exceptional ensemble cast including renowned names like Jaimini Pathak (Scam 1992, TVF Pitchers, Hush Hush, Scoop), Dheer Hira (Jigra, Sardar Uddham Singh), Dilnaz Irani (Sukhee, Heroine, Sense 8), Shivani Tanksale (Talaash, The Dirty Picture, 24), Salone Mehta (The Archies, Dear Zindagi, Dahaad), Harssh Singh (Special Ops, Raman Raghav 2.0, Rocket Boys), Vidushi Chadha (Deep Water, How Do You Fall Out of Love With Country Music? HIS Period), and Abhay Kaul (The Open Couple).

“We are excited to open Aadyam Theatre Season 7 with a play that is ingeniously crafted and also delves into the workings of an inquisitive young mind,” said Atul Kumar, Director “Our adaptation shifts the narrative from London to Mumbai, giving our audience characters they recognise in their everyday lives while also immersing them in the vast, beautiful world of Christopher’s mind. The play is a celebration of human spirit and determination, and we hope it will resonate deeply with the audience.”