Shakespearean play wants dog owners to audition their dogs

Don’t put your daughter on the stage, Mrs. Worthington. What do you say about dogs then?

A production of Shakespeare’s ‘Taming of the Shrew’ to be performed at Bath Spa University is asking for dog owners to bring their dogs along to audition for a role. They’re asking for any dog breed to try out (except for Spaniels, for some reason) so if you live in Bath and have a dog who you think would like to tread the boards why not try out for a role?

Terri Power is the director of the play. She states:

Usually in a modern performance of the play no actual dog is brought on stage. But in Shakespeare’s time they did so. They had a troupe of dogs specially trained to perform and do tricks or a jig as part of Elizabethan entertainment.

I want to recreate the experience of theatre as it was for audiences in Shakespeare’s Globe – the unpredictability and fun of dogs appearing in the middle of a show. That spontaneity is often missing nowadays.

If you have a Spaniel and you’re feeling left out, don’t be. The reason is that a character in the play, Petruchio, asks for a Spaniel, but is brought another breed. So unfortunately, any breed other than a Spaniel will be considered for the role.

The audition has been comically dubbed the ‘Rex Factor’ and is open Wednesday, tomorrow morning, from 10:30am to 12:30pm just outside Bath Abbey.

Good luck!

Darren Jamieson