Cat vs Dog hits the stage

The age-old relationship of the cat and the dog will hit the theatre stage these school holidays in a quirky comedy directed by Mark Hadlow.

The show, which is all about the relationship between cat and dog, tells of a relationship filled with one-upmanship, chasing and teasing between man’s best friend and the more independent feline.

“It’s a really interesting show as there’s no dialogue,” Mark says. “The relationship is all great fun till it all goes really badly wrong.”

Uncle Bert, played by Doug Brooks, affectionately cares for both the cat and the dog until a calamity has him fall over.

“They [the cat and dog] think they’ve caused this fall and so they have to work together to get him saved,” Mark says.

For 18-year-old William Haywood, who plays Dog, he’s looking forward to his first paid gig and says it has been different learning a part that has no words.

“I am quite used to learning lines, the only one I had to learn in this was ‘woof’,” he quips.

“I take drama at school, so it’s not something I’m new to, but different to what I prefer.”

He says he has used his own two dogs as his understudies.

“I looked at the way they behave and the woof, but they do much more than woof, they bark and whine and howl. Its been really fun to study the dog.”

He says he hopes to provide entertainment for not just children, but anyone.

“I’ve got a sister who’s younger than me, shes really excited to see her brother dressed as her dog.

“My aim is for little kids to be excited and happy and think ‘what does my dog do when I’m away’?”

Mark says the show will be two weeks of intimate performances at Founders Energy Event Centre.

“It’s 40 minutes long, so great for the younger ones. I’m really excited about it, it’s theatre with a difference – it’s intuitive, interpretive, and captures imaginations of a younger generation.

“I’m really hoping that all of the moves and the idiosyncrasies of the cat and the dog will create lovely images of their own pets,” he says of show attendees.

“Do we really know what our pets are doing when we’re not home? Are they mischievous? Do they tease each other?”

He says, while directing and taking notes, the interpretations of the cat and dog are “absolutely first rate”.

“I can see the cat and see the dog. Doug is bringing a wonderful quality to looking after his pets, we realise how interesting their lives must be. Anything is go, it’s exciting.”

Cat vs Dog will show daily at 11am and 1pm between Saturday, 28 September and Saturday 12 October, excluding Sundays. Tickets can be purchased here.