On Friday, March 3, Hopkinton Center for the Arts will present The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Directed by Paul Champlin, The Curious Incident stars Jacob Zinno of Sharon in the lead role. Like the main character, Zinno identifies as neurodiverse, and in keeping with the latest thinking from theater professionals, it is the most authentic way to cast a story such as this.

During its premiere run in 2012, the play tied the record for winning the most Olivier Awards (seven), including Best New Play at the 2013 ceremony.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time tells the story of a 15-year-old boy named Christopher Boone who has autism. The play opens with the mysterious death of a neighbor’s dog, Wellington, which Christopher sets out to investigate. Through his investigation, Christopher embarks on a journey of self-discovery and comes to understand more about himself, his relationships with others, and the world around him.

Throughout the play, Christopher faces numerous challenges, including dealing with the loss of his mother, who died two years prior, and navigating complex social interactions. Despite these difficulties, he perseveres and eventually solves the mystery of Wellington’s death, leading to a greater understanding of himself and those around him.

At its core, The Curious Incident is a story of a young man’s journey towards self-awareness and acceptance, told in a unique and captivating way that offers insights into the experience of those with autism and their interactions with the world.

“When Kelly and I discussed this we agreed that our approach would not be to present this as a show only about autism, but rather as a human story,” said Champlin. “This show has a lot of technical aspects to it, and while we put a lot of effort into those, we never want them to overshadow the story, which is fundamentally about how people navigate through dificult circumstances and conditions to come together.”

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are a core component of HCA’s mission. “We work hard to make sure that everyone, regardless of where they come from and what challenges they bring in the door, feel welcome and that they have a home here,” said Executive Director Kelly Grill. To that end, HCA is exploring adding a sensory-friendly component to all of their future shows.

“Ultimately the way we achieve our goals is through great storytelling,” said Grill. “And this is a great story,” she added.

The Curious Incident will run the weekend of March 3 and 4, and again on March 10 and 11. Tickets can be purchased on the HCA website.