RESIDENTS felt curious yesterday as chalk outlines of dogs appeared in various places across the town.

The pavement drawings, which were spotted at the train station, Wharf Green, Great Western Hospital and McArthurGlen Designer Outlet among others, were promoting the National Theatre’s production of The Curious Incident Of The Dog in the Night-Time, which is set in Swindon.

The award-winning play visits the New Theatre Oxford from May 22 – 27, and as part of World Book Day, staff from the venue made the journey down the A419 to create a little intrigue with the chalk outlines.

The show tells the story of 15-year-old Christopher Boone, who is trying to solve the mystery of who murdered his next door neighbour’s dog, Wellington.

He has an extraordinary brain, and is exceptional at maths while ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. He has never ventured alone beyond the end of his road, he detests being touched and distrusts strangers.

But his detective work, forbidden by his father, takes him on a frightening journey that upturns his world.

Richard Loftus, senior sales and marketing manager, said the pavement artwork had proved a real talking point with residents.

“The Curious Incident Of The Dog in the Night-Time is such a popular book, and as Swindon, the novel’s prime location, is just down the road from Oxford it seemed only right that we visited on World Book Day with our Wellington The Dog outline.

“Residents were really interested in what was happening, and we gathered quite an audience at some of the locations.”

  • The Curious Incident Of The Dog in the Night-Time returns to the New Theatre Oxford following a sell-out run in 2015. Tickets can be purchased by calling 0844 871 3020 or by visiting www.atgtickets.com/oxford (phone and internet bookings subject to booking/transaction fee. Calls are charged at 7p per minute, plus your phone company's access charge).