FARMING MATTERS: Working dog required for acting job

The late Badger, who used to perform in Of Mice and Men

My primary job on this newspaper is to write the leisure and entertainment pages, but this week I received a press release that I decided to share in my farming column instead of in the WOW section.

And that’s because it is a call out for an elderly working dog to take to the stage, and perhaps you have one yourself, or know of someone who does.

John Steinbeck’s modern classic, Of Mice and Men, is coming to the Oxford Playhouse in May and the producers are keen to cast a local dog in the show for every theatre visit.

After the death of the original show dog, Badger, who died just before rehearsals started, it was felt this was an opportunity to cast dogs from all over the country for each venue.

To audition, the dog needs to have the appearance of an elderly working dog, but can be any breed or size, and must have a calm temperament to appear on stage.

The dog will be needed for the duration of the run, from Tuesday May 10 through to Saturday 14 for matinee and evening performances. The dog will be on stage for 15 minutes in total and will always be on a lead and accompanied by the character Candy, played by Dudley Sutton.

Auditions take place at 2.30pm on Monday April 11 at Oxford Playhouse. Contact [email protected]