Dogs: Five-year-old Duke will be starring in La Bohème at the Kings Theatre Portsmouth

Duke, a Cavachon, will be appear in La Bohème staged by Ellen Kent, when it comes to the city on March 30 after the Kings Theatre put out an audition call in a bid to find its next canine star for the show. Duke is a registered therapy dog with Pets as Therapy and visits schools, hospitals and nursing homes. The precious pooch, who celebrates his sixth birthday on March 16, has been offering care and support to care homes and staff for the past five years and was assessed when he was only a one-year-old puppy.

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His Hambledon owner, Martin Clark, will also be taking to the stage with his dog and he will be sporting a costume to fit in with the rest of the cast.

Mr Clark said said: ‘Personally, my feelings are somewhat mixed regarding our appearance on stage at the Kings Theatre. I am generally a confident person but having never appeared on a stage in front of an audience previously I am somewhat nervous, anxious and excited all wrapped up in one.

‘But Duke and I come as a team and hopefully with some rehearsal tips and guidance, our nerves will be reduced, and we can give to the audience and actors within La Bohème, an evening they will remember.’

La Bohème, the Ellen Kent opera, will start at 7.30pm on March 30, and ticket prices start from £10 upwards. For more information or to book a ticket, visit The Kings Theatre website.