Mikron Theatre, in their 49th year of touring, are celebrating (wo)man’s best friend this season when they stage the premiere of Poppy Hollman’s new musical comedy caper A Dog’s Tale, which looks at canines past and present and the enduring bond between people and their dogs.
You would be FURgiven for thinking that Mikron is just another run of the mill theatre company, but you would be BARKING up the wrong tree. 2020 will see them LEAD you on a unique journey. It is a PAWsome show you will not be able to TERRIER yourself away from.
A Dog’s Tale will kick off its tour at The Holbeck in Leeds on Saturday 5 June and then tour nationally by canal, river, and road until 19 September.
Linda and her wayward rescue dog Gary are pursued by security through the halls and history of Crufts, accused of a terrible crime.
When Charles Cruft, the ‘Greatest Showman in Dogdom’, held his first show in 1891, he had a sense that dog ownership and breeding was about to become big.
In this extraordinary world of heroic hounds, pampered pedigrees and naughty nobblers, does Gary have what it takes to win the day?
A Dog’s Tale is directed by Rachel Gee, designed by Celia Perkins, music composed and directed by Rebekah Hughes. The cast will feature Rachel Benson (Redcoats, Mikron Theatre), Thomas Cotran (Loserville, Union Theatre), James McLean (Much Ado About Nothing, Northern Broadsides) and Elizabeth Robin (The Little Mermaid, Everyman Theatre, Liverpool).
Why a play about dogs? Why not? Mikron tells the stories of the people behind the big events in history and the things that are close to our hearts. A great story, cracking songs and versatile quartet of actor musicians will guide audiences through the halls and history of Crufts.
Playwright and cat lover Poppy Hollman said about her new play: I have written over twenty characters to be played by only four actors, but I know they will enjoy the challenge of bringing it to life! I was picked to write the play after participating in Mikron’s 2018 Writer’s Scheme: it is my first professional commission. It has been a delight to work for Mikron, a company whose creativity and ethos I love. I cannot wait to see them work their magic on ‘A Dog’s Tale’.
I spent two fascinating days at Crufts last year, eavesdropping on competitors and trying to work out which dog would win in each competition (success rate: zero). People were very friendly and frank in sharing their suspicions about judging bias. ‘Well, you know, that dog will win because it’s Scottish and so is the judge!’ (it did win). My impression of Crufts was that whilst dog participation was on an exclusive basis, a huge variety of humankind was in evidence, on two legs or four wheels. Testament perhaps to the huge importance of dogs to many different people in their roles as pets, medical assistance dogs, working dogs and more. It is also true to the founding principles of Charles Cruft, who charged only a penny so that everyone could enter their best friend.
A Dog’s Tale will be touring nationally from 5 June – 19 September 2021 alongside the previously announced new play by Amanda Whittington Atalanta Forever.
For further information on A Dog’s Tale please visit https://mikron.org.uk/shows/a-dogs-tale
