Stamford Shoestring set for eight-night run of Shakespeare In Love – The Play at Stamford Arts Centre
The old adage says never work with children or animals, but a four-legged thespian is braced to steal the show in a new town theatre production.
Cocker spaniel Matilda will be donning a ruff – what else? – for a role in Shakespeare in Love – The Play which opens at Stamford Arts Centre on Tuesday, December 5.
The five-year-old family pet will appear in the Stamford Shoestring production as Spot, a dog brought in to act in a play to please Queen Elizabeth I.
“She will only be coming on for about two minutes each night, but she’s going to steal the show, we know it,” said Matilda’s owner Ali Cooper.
“I’ve been in shows before with dogs and as soon as a real life dog comes on stage, no-one will look at you!”
Matilda has lived with the Coopers from a puppy, and Ali knew she would fit the bill.
“Although she is a working cocker I always say she would be unemployed because she’s not the brightest,” she joked.
“In the play when’s told to jump, she just sits there which is part of the joke - they don’t want a dog who will actually jump.
“They were just looking for someone who looks the part, who wasn’t too big and not too yappy. And she does look very pretty with the ruff on.”
Matilda will be suitably rewarded for her stage debut.
“The dog who played the part in the West End was paid two sausages per show,” said Ali.
“But Matilda is quite slight so we will have to find something suitably low-fat. She is very motivated by food.”
Shoestring are playing an extended run at the St Mary’s Street venue of eight performances, instead of five, held over two weeks.
They will play consecutive nights from Tuesday to the following Saturday and then three additional dates from Thursday to Saturday, December 14 to 16. Curtain up is at 6pm for all performances.
The screenplay was adapted for the stage by Lee Hall who wrote for hit films Billy Elliot, War Horse and Rocketman.
It tells the story of penniless young playwright William Shakespeare who is in debt to producers and tormented by writer’s block until he meets Viola, the daughter of a wealthy merchant.
Having been promised to an aristocrat by her father, their love affair is kept secret and becomes the basis of the play he is writing – Romeo and Juliet.
The lively production features sword fighting, gags, singing, dancing and a live band.
But Ali, who is in her first Shoestring production as Viola’s nurse, hopes Matilda can contain her excitement during her cameo.
“I asked my husband to book tickets near the back of the theatre when he comes to see it, but he has got tickets for row B,” she said.
“So if she smells or hears him, I don’t know what will happen!”
Tickets are available from Stamford Arts Centre box office on 01780 480846 and 763203, or www.stamfordartscentre.com