Mikron Theatre Company Presents a Dog’s Tale

Mikron Theatre Company is celebrating its 49th year of touring (by road, river and canal) with A Dog’s Tale, a new play from Poppy Hollman.

Poppy’s musical comedy caper pays homage to our best (four legged) friends and the bond between wo/man and dog. Follow the adventure of Linda and rescue dog Gary as they fall foul of security at Crufts, in a world of pampered pedigrees and heroic hounds.

Mikron’s stories are all about people, big events and matters close to our hearts. A Dog’s Tale is a great story with some cracking songs delivered by four actor-musicians. Cat lover Poppy:

The first performance will take place at The Holbeck on 5 June, the first date of the tour.

A Dog’s Tale is directed by Rachel Gee, designed by Celia Perkins, music composed and directed by Rebekah HughesThe 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).

Writer and cat lover Poppy: “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.

Director Rachel Gee: “A Dog’s Tale is my first directing job with Mikron and it’s the ideal show for me as a dog owner. We cannot wait to welcome audiences (and their dogs) to shows up and down the country. Dog lover or not, this is the perfect night out for fun, laughter and wonderful songs.”

In 2021, Mikron Theatre Company will embark on their 49th year of touring.  Based in the village of Marsden, at the foot of the Yorkshire Pennines, Mikron Theatre Company is like no other. They tour for most of the year on board a vintage narrowboat, they put on their shows in places that other theatre companies would not dream of; a play about growing-your-own shown in allotments, a play about bees performed next to hives, a play about chips to audiences in a fish and chips restaurant, as well as plays about hostelling in YHA Youth hostels and the RNLI at several Lifeboat stations around the UK.

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

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