A special stage version of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is coming to Dagenham schools.

Barking and Dagenham Post: A stage version of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time will be performed at Dagenham schools as part of a national tour. Picture: The Other RichardA stage version of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time will be performed at Dagenham schools as part of a national tour. Picture: The Other Richard (Image: Archant)

The production, which is followed by a Q&A with the cast and creative team, will visit Dagenham Park School on October 31 and Jo Richardson Community School on November 1 as part of a second national schools tour.

Simon Stephens' play brings the best-selling and award-winning novel by Mark Haddon to the stage, directed by Marianne Elliott.

The tour forms part of a National Theatre (NT) drive to introduce new audiences and more young people to theatre.

NT director of learning Alice King-Farlow said: "This brilliant play is a fantastic first experience of theatre and we know from last year's tour that seeing a live professional production in your own school hall can have real impact."

The tour is accompanied by a learning programme, which includes professional development for teachers led by the NT and Curious Incident movement directors Frantic Assembly, as well as curriculum-based resources and workshops.