Curious Incident of the East End transfer

The award-winning play left homeless by the Apollo ceiling collapse has made an unexpected transfer from the West End to the East End.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time has been in limbo since December 19, when part of the ceiling fell in on the audience, injuring dozens.

But the cast was reunited yesterday, after Newham council agreed to host the play in Stratford old town hall for a fortnight of free performances for around 1,000 secondary school pupils.

More than 150 children surrounded the stage yesterday in a room typically used to host functions.

One, Yaseed Baptista, said: “I never knew actors could be that good.” Another, Ben Yamen, said: “It makes you imagine.”

The boys, both 13, were among 90 Year Nine students from Cumberland School in Newham, one of London’s most deprived boroughs.

Scott Wallace, the school’s head of drama, said: “These guys are right at the beginning of their drama development so the chance to see something so cutting-edge really raises their aspirations.

“A very small percentage get to go to the theatre with their families.”

The play, based on a novel by Mark Haddon, tells the story of Christopher, a 15-year-old boy whose obsession with a murdered dog transforms his life.

Last month The National Theatre revealed it could not return its Olivier award-winning production to the damaged Apollo. A new run at the Gielgud Theatre starts in June.