EVERY time a National Theatre production rolls into town audience expectations quite rightly goes up a notch.

It was no different for the Mayflower’s staging of the hit book Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

Coming from London by critical acclaim, it is based on a novel which evokes powerful emotions in readers, now studied by schoolchildren as a set text, and as a book of solace for families affected by autism.

Indeed Joshua Jenkins was a triumph as the autistic Christopher Boone who brilliantly conveys Asperger's Syndrome without ever telling the audience of his condition.

This is the brilliance of both the book and the play, using first-person it allows us to see into the mind of Christopher and understand life from his perspective as he attempts to solve the puzzle of who killed Mrs Shears’ dog.

Even the stage played its part. Set within a prism which aims to represent Christopher's mind — the unusual set-up meant actors left and entered via doors which enclosed the stage.

It is a play which makes you want to laugh and cry in equal measures yet throughout remains upbeat. It is another wonderful National Theatre production which is a must see either at Southampton or another venue on its UK tour.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time runs until Saturday at the Mayflower tickets available from the Box Office on 02380 711811.

Alex Rennie