It's a dog's life playing dead!

With children from the Drama Workshop, Harvey, who belongs to the Houghton family of Shorefield Mount, Egerton, is taking part in a production of A Country Where There Is Peace.

Proceeds from two performances at the Astley Bridge Theatre Church will go to a Romanian charity and money from a third performance at Mount St Joseph School will go to charities the school supports in India and Romania.

Three-year-old Harvey is taking his acting debut seriously. The usually immaculate dog will be made into a mangy mutt for the production. The wardrobe department will brush his fur backwards and cover him with mud.

There's even a suggestion that Harvey should be made into a doggy dinner when the characters in the play are starving. He escapes that fate but, sadly ,"dies" at the end of the play The death scene is no problem for Harvey.

Anne Collins who runs Drama Workshop and is directing the production, believes Harvey is a "natural".

He loves being on stage, she said, and whimpers throughout rehearsals when he is not in the limelight.

At home he sleeps in 12-year-old Helena Houghton's room and enjoys a treat of cheese.

Helena plays a girl who has been orphaned during the war and adopts Harvey.

John Shawcross, aged 14, from Thornleigh School, was to have played Jan, but has had to go into hospital. Luke Harrison, aged 13, from Turton School, agreed to play the role at short notice.

Anne said: "John has been a stalwart member of the cast who was the first to learn all his lines. We are all very sad that he can't be with us after all his work. But Luke has valiantly stepped in to help save the day. We are very grateful to him."

A Country Where There is Peace will be staged at the Theatre Church on May 8 and 9 (tickets from 01204 400468) and at Mount St Joseph School on May 15 (tickets from the school). Performances start at 7.15 pm.

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