Multi-talented mutts take the lead in Bard’s play

For our countywide leisure guide and TV listings, see your What’s On supplement

Talented dogs will star in a new production of William Shakespeare’s The Two Gentleman of Verona.

The show is being put on by the The Changeling Theatre, who held auditions in Maidstone in the hunt for a dog to play the part of Crab.

Gary Telfer, production manager for the theatre group, said: “We were delighted to have nearly 12 dogs to choose from.

“All of them that came along were fantastic and some were already pros to the stage.

“They were all so well behaved and some could even do a few tricks.”

The dogs are all rescue animals and come from several areas in Kent, including Faversham and Marden.

Director and company owner Rob Forknall added: “They were all so good we have decided that we are going to give most of them the opportunity to perform at some stage during our tour.”

The Two Gentlemen of Verona is a comedy, written between 1589 and 1592 and believed by many to be Shakespeare’s first play.

It deals with the themes of friendship and infidelity, the conflict between friendship and love, and the foolish behaviour of people in love.

Some consider the highlight of the play to be the appearance of Launce, the clownish servant of Proteus, and his dog Crab.

Actor Peter Dukes, who will play Launce, has already connected with the dogs by taking them for walks.

He said: “I took them all for a walk to see if they would be comfortable with me – a few of them took me for a walk!

“It’s going to be interesting to see how they perform on the day. I just hope there will be no poopies!”

Based in Kent, Changeling was formed in 1997 and its production of The Two Gentleman of Verona will be put on at several locations throughout the county this summer, including Egerton House, in Egerton House Road, Egerton on Thursday, July 9; Eastwell Manor Hotel, in Boughton Lees, on Sunday, August 2 and Kennington Hall, in Canterbury Road, Kennington, on Friday, August 7.

It will also be performed at Biddenden Vineyard, in Gribble Bridge Lane, on Sunday, August 9.

Tickets are £19.50 for adults, £8 for under 16s and a family ticket is £50.

Audiences are invited to bring a picnic and sit on blankets to watch the outdoor performances.

For more information go to www.changeling-theatre.com

Peter Dukes, who plays Launce with Sally, Vito, Roxy, Jackson, Finn and Smithy