Sarah Woodward is starring as Siobhan in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time which resumes its West End run at the Gielgud Theatre tonight (Tuesday 24th June) ahead of its official opening on Tuesday 8th July.
Curious Incident is set to open on Broadway in September and a UK and Ireland touring production launches at The Lowry in Salford later this year.
Winner of seven Olivier Awards, Curious Incident is based on Mark Haddon’s award-winning novel, adapted by Simon Stephens and directed by Marianne Elliott. The play opened at the National’s Cottesloe Theatre in August 2012, and following a sell-out run the production transferred to the Apollo Theatre in March 2013.
Sarah’s theatre credits include: In The Next Room (St James), Love & Information and Jumpy (Royal Court), The Cherry Orchard, The Hour We Knew Nothing of Each Other and Present Laughter (National), Judgement Day (Almeida), The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Comedy of Errors and Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare’s Globe), The Real Thing (Donmar/West End/Broadway) and The Tempest, Love’s Labour’s Lost and The Venetian Twins (RSC).
She won the 1998 Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role for her performance in Tom & Clem at the West End’s Aldwych Theatre. Her television credits include: DCI Banks, Law & Order, Doctors, New Tricks, The Bill and Casualty whilst her film credits include: Bright Young Things, I Capture the Castle and The House of Angelo.
I recently spoke to Sarah about the exciting buzz surrounding Curious Incident’s West End return, the first time she saw the show and why she’s excited to be back in the West End…
Had you seen the show prior to your casting?
I’d seen it at the Apollo back in August, I just knew I wanted to see it as soon as the production opened. I took my family, we sat right up in the cheap seats and it was wonderful, we really enjoyed it. It’s one of my all-time favourite books – I even remember where I was when I read it – but this was all long before I even got wind of possibly doing it. It completely came out the blue!
So you didn’t sit there thinking ‘I want to play that role’, it just came up by chance?
Absolutely, I didn’t think about it. The thought didn’t enter my head at all, I just had a great night at the theatre [laughs]! Then the call came through quite a while after… and here we are now!
The company during rehearsals
It’s a very exciting time for Curious Incident. Not only is it returning to the West End but it’s opening on Broadway in October and a UK Tour is being launched later this year. Is there an exciting buzz working on the show?
There is, there’s a huge excitement. It’s one of those jobs I really look forward to in the morning which only happens every now and again. Sometimes you can be worried about a job, things don’t always go well, but with this one, as you say, there’s this great buzz. Because there are so many productions which are about to start, it feels very special and we’re lucky to have had a good, long rehearsal period. Most of the cast are new which helps; we’ve got three people who have stayed on from the last cast, they’re very useful because it’s a very technical show. I feel very lucky!
Whenever I mention Curious Incident to someone who has read the book but not seen the play, they always say, “how on earth do they do that on stage?!”
I was the same; I loved the book and was quite sceptical about the show. I thought, ‘I don’t understand how they could possibly do that on stage’ and I believe even with the original cast they weren’t sure it was going to hang together and if people would accept it. I think it’s an all-round show, it carries the soul of the book and adds a little bit extra.
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| Sarah in rehearsals |
The show takes many risks and is incredibly unique, what do you think audiences can expect?
First and foremost it tells a brilliant story. Judging by all its awards you know it has incredible lighting, sound and music. That makes the show! They really cleverly create Christopher’s world. That’s the most important thing that comes from the book, Christopher’s world is very, very different from our normal understanding of life. It’s a very exciting show with lots of bangs and wheezes! It all comes together which I think is why it’s so successful. It’s not just the acting – it’s everything, it’s a real team effort.
Are you having fun discovering Siobhan?
Yes, it’s quite difficult because a lot of the time I take on Christopher, I read from the book in the play… so it’s sort of a play within a play. I’m always Siobhan, but I’m still discovering who I am. She’s a fascinating lady, but she’s also a bit of a guardian angel – there’s something other worldly about her. It’s fascinating!
Is it nice to be back in the West End?
It’s the place to be! It’s the greatest place to do a piece of theatre! I’ve done mostly theatre all my career and the best theatres are those in the West End, they’re the most exciting. I can’t wait to get going at the Gielgud! It’s going to be great fun!
Interviewed by Andrew Tomlins (Editor)
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is currently booking at the Gielgud Theatre until Saturday 14th February 2015. Please visit www.curiousonstage.com for further information and tickets.
Photo Credit 2&3: Ellie Kurttz
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