A canine character is set to steal the show when a nationally-renowned Shakespeare company make their debut at The Dukes in Lancaster.
Black labrador Lollio has won so many fans in his role as Crab in Two Gentleman of Verona that he even has his own blog at lolliosblog.wordpress.com. He stars alongside his owner Chris Donnelly.
It will be the first time The Dukes has welcomed the Bristol-based Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory who present this full cast production in The Round.
Artistic director Andrew Hilton described his four-legged cast member as “an actor of the old school if ever I saw one.
“Lollio is quite hard to read, and at times, seems happier to become a member of the audience than to take centre stage himself. He hardly speaks but one does occasionally catch a brief glance of reproach.”
Designer Harriet de Winton, who has been working closely with Lollio on his costume, added: “He is really keen to accurately represent the feral underside of Crab's personality and we have had countless fittings with collar makers and dog tailors to finally settle upon a bit of rope.”