THE finishing touches are being put to the latest production from Castle Players, which ignores the old showbiz adage never to work with children or animals.

Both feature in the cast list for Anne Bronte's The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, with Teddy the Cockapoo the latest addition to the line-up.

The play will be staged at Barnard Castle's Witham Hall on Friday and Saturday, November 11 and 12 at 7.30pm, with a 2pm matinee on the Saturday.

Teddy, who belongs to the daughter of director Mary Stastny, was drafted in after a previous pooch failed to bond with actor Ben Pearson, who plays one of the male leads, Gilbert Markham. There were no such problems with Teddy, who had his first rehearsal on Sunday, when he made instant friends with Ben, aided by a bag of cooked sausages.

The production of the classic story, adapted for the stage by Deborah McAndrew, also features a cache of authentic Victorian lace on the costumes. The items, hand-made collars and day bonnets, used to belong to Mary's great, great grandmother, and will be worn by young cast members.

 

The original Victorian lace which has been used for costumes in the play

The original Victorian lace which has been used for costumes in the play

"They've been sitting in a draw for 100 years, so I thought we might as well give them an airing," said Mary.

Tickets are selling well for the show, which involves 16 members of Castle Players as cast and crew. "It's going incredibly well," added Mary. "We have quite a few new actors who haven't been in Castle Players before, there's an extraordinary amount of talent."

To book tickets, which cost £12 (£10 for students and concessions), contact the Witham Box Office on 01833 631107 or go to www.thewitham.org.uk/whats-on.