Curious Incident lead is Broadway dream come true for London actor Alex Sharp

London-born actor Alex Sharp says it was an “honour” to have his major debut on Broadway as the lead in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
“Honour”: Alex Sharp says he’s read the book 4 to 5 times (Picture: Gary Gershoff/WireImage)
Gary Gershoff/WireImage
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A london-born actor says that having his major debut on Broadway as the lead in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a “dream come true”.

Newcomer Alex Sharp said it was an “honour” to land the part in the hit play, based on Mark Haddon’s best-selling novel about the journey of an autistic teenager Christopher Boone.

For the Broadway version, producers have re-cast the show with a largely American cast in a bid to ensure the show’s longevity.

Sharp, 25, who was born in London and grew up travelling around North America in a caravan before living in Italy and Devon, was cast as Christopher days before graduating from Juilliard School, a performing arts conservatory in New York. He said his nomadic life had helped him understand Christopher’s outlook.

He said: “It’s a dream come true. There’s a huge responsibility playing such a complex, unique character, but it’s an honour… I can understand his world view because when I was seven, joining school for the first time, having travelled so much and not had any structure, was an interesting challenge and a constant struggle. I’ve read the book probably 4 to 5 times and it’s a pleasure finding new and amazing information.”

The show opens at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on October 5. The original production transferred from the National Theatre to the Apollo before reopening last month at the Gielgud Theatre.

Director Marianne Elliott said: “The creative team is the same, but we’re starting from scratch with the actors and it feels like a completely new venture. It felt right.”

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