The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is about an autistic boy. But it hasn’t always been autism-friendly

Mark Haddon’s novel has been adapted for the stage a number of times but autistic audiences and performers haven’t always been a priority. Photograph: Brett Boardman/Belvoir

The play has barely begun but onstage at Belvoir’s new production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time a countdown clock is already, steadily, ticking down to something explosive.

Christopher, an autistic teenager, is about to be thrown into the deep end of a murder mystery (involving his neighbour’s dog). Emotions are running high and a confrontation is brewing.