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Royal
Exchange
Theatre
Activities Resource
& Programme
£1.00
by
Amanda Dalton
Inside
• stories & factfiles
• activities & jokes
• quizzes
June 2004
Resource Pack sponsored by
Royal
Exchange
Theatre
Fact
Files
Which of these jobs would
you like to do? Turn to
the back page to find out
more about what goes on
behind the scenes at the
Royal Exchange Theatre.
Name: Amanda Dalton
Role: Writer of DOG BOY
What is your favourite animal and why?
I love all animals. My favourite is the
elephant because it is beautiful and has
a fantastic personality.
DOG BOY is based in Manchester. What
is your favourite city and why?
se I love
My favourite city is probably Venice in Italy, becau water.
on
built
is
e
Venic
and
water
love
I
and
ngs
the buildi
Who was your best friend at school?
wasn’t
Debbie Jackson. She was a vicar’s daughter but she
well behaved.
Do you believe in ghosts?
Yes - but I’ve never seen one.
d on?
What is your favourite theatre project that you’ve worke
This one! It’s great to be given the freedom to write one
every
whatever I want but with the support of Jacob and
in the theatre.
What are you scared of?
I am
I’m not scared of anything like spiders or the dark but
don’t
I
where
ry
count
a
in
own
my
on
lost
being
of
scared
. That
speak the language and no-one knows what I’m on about ing!
terrify
it’s
that
think
I
&
once
mine
of
friend
a
happened to
Name: Rachel Brogan
Role: Bendy
Describe your role in one sentence:
Bendy is a lonely, kind-hearted girl who
becomes Dan’s best friend.
What is your favourite animal and why?
My favourite animals are dogs. I have
always had dogs from being very small.
They are loyal & give lots of love back to you.
DOG BOY is based in Manchester. What is your favou
rite city and why?
I have lived in Manchester all my life, so I would say
my favourite city. It feels like home. Also, my favou Manchester is
rite
Manchester City, are another reason I love Mancheste football team,
r.
Do you believe in ghosts?
I think it’s strange enough that we are floating in mid-a
earth & water, and not falling off. Anything is possi ir, on a ball of
ble.
What is your favourite theatre project that you’ve
worked on?
My favourite theatre project was a play I was in called
SANCTUARY LAMP for the Royal Exchange. I really enjoyTHE
ed playing my
character and learnt a lot during rehearsal.
What are you scared of?
I am scared of fear itself. I don’t like to feel as thoug
h
situation and feeling afraid is probably the worst type I don’t control a
of vulnerability.
Name: Jacob Murray
Role: Director
Describe your role in one sentence:
Looking after the play and actors.
What is your favourite animal and why?
Dogs for their warmth, loyalty and love.
DOG BOY is based in Manchester. What is your favou
rite city
and why?
Vienna, because that was where I proposed to my
future wife.
What is your favourite theatre project that you’ve worke
d on?
THE DEAD WAIT which I directed in The Studio in 2002.
Do you like being at the Royal Exchange? Why?
Yes because I’m allowed to work on the kind of play
I’m
interested in.
What are you scared of?
Losing everything.
Name: Nick Figgis
Role: Dan
Describe your role in one
sentence:
Dan is a troubled, very intelligent
& imaginative boy who loves
animals because they’re easier to
get on with than people.
rite
DOG BOY is based in Manchester. What is your favou
why?
and
city
se it’s
Don’t really like cities but I suppose Newcastle becau
got lots of memories.
Who was your best friend at school?
of
Robbie Carlton. He had a massive ‘fro and millions
cool.
but
odd
freckles. He was very
Do you believe in ghosts?
I’ve never seen one, but I’d love to.
Do you like being at the Royal Exchange? Why?
Yes. It’s a great space & a brilliant play.
What are you scared of?
e
Wild rats. There are millions of them. Apparently you’r ry,
slithe
their
and
one
from
away
never more than a metre
slimy bodies make me want to puke!
Name: Romy Baskerville
Role: Gran
Describe your role in one sentence:
I’m Dan’s grandmother who comes to look
after him while his mother’s in hospital.
What is you favourite animal and why?
A pied wagtail (a bird) - they cheer me up!
DOG BOY is based in Manchester. What is
your favourite city and why?
r and there’s
Manchester, because I’ve watched it get better & bette
so much to do.
Do you believe in ghosts?
I would if one poked me in the eye with a sharp stick!
worked on?
What is your favourite theatre project that you’ve
EN at M6
GARD
’S
A play with 2 actors & 2 puppets called SONIA
al.
magic
is
ts
puppe
with
ng
Theatre Company. Worki
What are you scared of?
on. No problem
Bolton Wanderers being relegated to the First Divisi
this season!
Also working on DOG BOY...
Richard Owen
Gerry Marsden
Shobna Gulati
Keith Broom
Julia Wade
Lyn Howard
Ben Donoghue
Tracy Dunk
Jerry Knight-Smith
Camilla Evans
Lighting Designer
Sound Designer
Choreographer
Technical Stage Manager
Stage Manager
Deputy Stage Manager
Assistant Stage Manager
Wardrobe Supervisor
Casting Department
Casting Department
Set, Props & Costumes by
The Royal Exchange Theatre Company
Acting Head of Props & Settings Phil Costello.
Name: Luke Hunt
Role: Designer
Describe your role in one sentence:
I design the set and the costumes.
What is your favourite animal and why?
Tulip our hamster who died recently.
Who was your best friend at school?
I didn’t have one best friend for very long.
Do you believe in ghosts?
No. Ghosts are rubbish anyway. Whenever someone
tells
‘ghost’ story, all the ghosts ever seem to do is move me a
household objects whenever nobody is looking.
What is your favourite theatre project that you’ve
worked on?
This one because it has the most imaginative settin
gs to design.
What are you scared of?
Nuclear war and the ‘Teacher’ from the Pink Floyd
video
‘Another Brick in the Wall.’
Name: Malcolm Raeburn
Role: Middle-aged Dan/The Professor
Describe you role in one sentence:
Dan as he hopes he will be when
he’s older, and perhaps as he fears
he will be.
What is your favourite animal and why?
Dogs - of course! Other people’s
dogs, that is - I’m not all that keen on looking after
animals. But
I’m sure dogs have a sense of humour: they make me
laugh,
anyway!
DOG BOY is based in Manchester. What is your favourite
city and why?
New York. Scary but exciting. And Rome - great ruins.
Great
pizzas. Much nicer than at home (ruined pizzas.)
Do you believe in ghosts?
Just a minute, did you hear that? That creaking? Could
it be?
Er...no.
Do you like being at the Royal Exchange? Why?
Yes! Such an honour to be in the same space as so
many
theatrical greats. And so convenient for the shops!
What are you scared of?
What have you got?
Basically, any creature that seems to have more legs
than are
necessary for getting about!
With thanks to...
Iceland Foods plc
Phone City, Withington
Lyon’s Cakes
Pets at Home Ltd.
Manchester Dogs Home
Addis Houseware Ltd.
B & Q Warehouse (Ashton)
Tesco
Somerfield
Sainsbury’s
Rosewood (for dog crates)
A big thank you to all the schools who have contributed
to
the DOG BOY exhibition in The Studio foyer.
WHAT’S MY PET?
Can you guess which pet belongs to who?
Grappa and Lola
Rough Collie &
Ridgeback/Pointer cross
Like: Scooby Snacks &
rolling in poo
Amanda
DOG BOY writer
Likes: seasides in winter
Boadicea
goldfish (deceased)
Likes: swimming
Katie
Company Manager
Likes: Earl Grey tea
Jerry
Casting Director
Likes: real ale
Mr Bernard Jones
King of the Cats
Likes: plenty of dinner
Jacob
Director
Likes: Lasagne
Redcat & Mouse
2 fine cats
Like: sleeping &
eating melon
A. A watch dog
Patient: Doctor, doctor, I
feel like a dog.
Doctor: Sit
Q. What’s the first thing
a werewolf eats after
having a tooth out?
A. The dentist.
Q. Why do vampires drink
blood?
A. Because lemonade
makes them burp.
Q. What do werewolves
write at the end of their
letters?
A. BEST VICIOUS
Answers
Q. What goes ‘tick tick
woof woof’?
- What kind of dog is
that?
- A Chihuaha
- A what?
- A chihuaha. A chihuaha!
- Bless you!
Mr Bernard Jones
Redcat & Mouse
Grappa & Lola
Goldie
Q. What does a dog do
that a person steps
into?
A. Pants
Man: Have you any dogs
going cheap?
Petshop owner: No Sir,
all our dogs go “woof”
Amanda:
Katie:
Jerry:
Jacob:
ARE YOU JOKIN G?
Q. Why did the teacher
send Dracula’s son
home from school?
A. He was coffin.
Q. What do you say
before you start a
meeting with ghosts?
A. Please be sheeted.
ANAGRAMS, NICKNAMES
and NAMES that CHANGE
over TIME...
bly not
special names that are proba
In DOG BOY all of the characters have nicknames, or
the characters introduce themselves by
of
Some
those they were given when they were born.
their nickname. Can you remember who does this?
. Why do you think we are never told
Some of the characters never tell us their real name
the Professor’s real name?
at the end of the play....Neither Gran nor
The real names of two of the characters are told to us right
insists on being called Bendy and
Bendy like their real name, so they use different ones. Bendy
Gran’s stage name was Elva Rie.
him Dog Boy. He tells her “my name is Dan”.
Dan, on the other hand, doesn’t like it when Bendy calls
Why do you think Dan doesn’t like his nickname?
Why does Bendy call him this?
can “ bend round corners and under
Bendy tells Dan that she is called Bendy because she
proud of her nickname, and probably
things, and in through little dog-flaps.” She seems
made it up herself.
up your own nickname or someone
Do you think it makes a difference whether you make
else gives it to you?
some that are not? One of the bad
Are there some kinds of nicknames that are cool and
make fun of a person and bully them.
things about nicknames is that they can be used to
Boy”?
What do you think is going on when Bendy calls Dan “Dog
Why Not?
• When Dan’s Gran was a dancer her stage name was
Elva Rie - an
anagram of her real name, Valerie. An anagram is a
word which is
made by rearranging the letters of another word. Make
anagrams
of your first name and surname, if you can. Compare
your
anagrams with those of a friend and other members
of your family.
• Make a list of any famous people you can think of
who have
nicknames. See if you know their real names, and why
they were
given nicknames in the first place. You could start your
list with
Posh n Becks.
• Think a bit more about nicknames and the ways in
which some
people change their names. What are all the reasons
they do this?
Do you think people sometimes want to change the
name they’re
known as, as they get older or as their life changes?
Do you think
Bendy will still want to be called “Bendy” when she
is Gran’s age?
• Make up a new name or a nickname for yourself. Try
to think of a
quality or interest that you have and build that into
the name. For
example, some people who are fast runners have somet
imes been
given names with “speedy” in them. In Louis Sachar’s
novel, HOLES,
all the characters have nicknames. Why not borrow the
book from
the library and check out why X-Ray, Caveman, Zero
and the other
boys have these particular names? Make a name for
yourself that
says something about who you are or who you would
like to be.
Dog Boy Wordsearch Quiz
The answers to all these clues are hidden in
the wordsearch. Can you find them?
1. Anagram of Valerie: Gran’s stage name.
2. The name of Dan’s dog.
3. What Dan wants to be when he grows up.
4. Where is Dan’s mum?
5. What Dan leaves in the spooky house.
6. The surname of Gran’s late husband.
7. The nickname of the girl who wears Gran’s slippers.
8. The first name of the DOG BOY Sound Designer.
9. The microwave meal Gran gives Dan for his tea.
10. What Gran and Bendy do at the end of the play.
Sirius
a swimming stroke
a shrubby kind of plant
the damaged or worn pages of a book
urants
a parcel of leftover food to take home from resta
dogs
less
home
and
lost
up
s
someone who round
collar some vicars wear instead of a tie.
as well as a collar for a dog to wear, it’s the white
e else wants to do
a person who does the unpleasant or dull jobs no-on
Answers
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
1C, 2H, 3E, 4D, 5B, 6A, 7F, 8G.
1. dog-wood?
2. a dogsbody?
3. a doggy bag?
4. dog-eared?
5. the doggy paddle?
6. the Dog Star?
7. a dog warden?
8. a dog collar ?
1. Elva Rie
2. Digger
3. Vet
4. Hospital
5. Lead
6. Phelps
7. Bendy
8. Gerry
9. Lasagne
10. Dance
CAN YOU MATCH THESE
DOGS WITH THEIR MEANINGS?
TRUTH OR FICTION ?
?
N
IO
IT
T
S
R
E
P
U
S
R
O
FACT
LEGEND OR LIE?
Here are 6 dog stories. 3 are true,
1 is a legend, 1 is supernatural and 1 is
fiction.Can you guess which is which?
A clue:
ce or natural things
supernatural means can’t be explained by scien
.
- some people believe in the supernatural; others don’t
, probably told
A legend is a story handed down from earlier times
years. We’re not
(rather than written down) by many people over the
is usually some
there
but
not
or
ned
always sure if a legend really happe
we can
story
a
like
feel
it
s
make
that
kind of message in the story
today.
lives
our
live
we
how
about
thing
believe in and that tells us some
(But that doesn’t
Fiction is a story that is made up. It is not true.
mean it’s bad - most of the best stories are fiction)
G
1. RALPH THE CLEVERsuddeDO
nly ran away
one day. Ralph
Daniel Hutchins was taking his dog, Ralph, for a walk
and Daniel was very worried. He was
and was lost for hours and hours. It was getting dark
his home he saw Ralph, pulling what
looking everywhere. Suddenly, in a back street near
Ralph had found an old manhole,
looked like a snake from a hole in the ground. In fact,
under the street. Ralph was pulling at
with no cover on. It was going down into the sewer
and helped his dog to tug at the
a rope that seemed to be stuck. Daniel hurried to Ralph
t, wrapped in a plastic bag, were a
rope. Tied to its end was a bucket. And in the bucke
ht to the police and the Daily
pair of tap-dancing shoes. Daniel took the shoes straig
one’s surprise, an elderly lady called
Mirror printed a photograph of them. Much to every
ged to the famous film star, Fred
Valerie Phelps recognised the shoes. They had belon
1965 and they had been stolen in a
Astaire. She had bought the shoes in an auction in
delighted to get them back after all
burglary at her house on June 4th 1982. She was so
to sleep on and a year’s supply of his
these years that she gave Ralph a cosy new blanket
favourite dog food.
2. DOGS OF WAR
to beat the advancing German armies
During the Second World War, the Russian Army hoped
biscuits and other titbits as bait, they
with their new secret weapon, the exploding dog. Using
of tanks. The cruel plan was to tie
taught the dogs to expect to find food on the underneath
d under enemy vehicles in
crawle
bombs to the dogs, who would then explode when they
it all went wrong for the
test
the
to
search of a snack. But - when the nasty plan was put
d to expect to find food
learne
had
they
Russian Army. The dogs ignored the German tanks, as
, the army had to
tanks
n
Russia
the
ds
only under their own tanks. As the dogs raced towar
tried such a
never
they
and
off....
went
quickly catch them and stop them before the bombs
.
cruel plan again
4. DOG IN
SPACE
Laika was a stray dog living in Moscow. One day she
was caught in the street and put in a cage in the
back of a van. She was taken to a kind of
to
laboratory. Laika didn’t know it but she was going
For
2.
ik
Sputn
called
t
be sent into space in a rocke
months she was trained for her mission and on
November 3 1957 she was sent into space. She was
sent nearly 2,000 miles into orbit and she survived
this. Sadly, though, the life support system in her
capsule ran out and Laika died before she got back
to Earth. A monument to Laika stands at Star City
outside Moscow, and many people have written
about her including Mathew Sweeney who wrote this
sad poem:
Dog In Space
The barking in space
has died out now,
though dogbones rattle.
And the marks of teeth
on the sputnik’s hull
are proof of a battle
impossible to win.
And asteroid-dents
were no help at all.
Did the dog see,
through the window,
earth’s blue ball?
Did the dog know
that no other dog
had made the circle
around the earth her historic spin
that turned eternal?
3. GREYFRIARS’ BOBBdYin Old
Bobby, was burie
In 1858, John Gray, the owner of a Skye Terrier called
his master’s death, Bobby
after
years
en
fourte
For
Greyfriars Churchyard, Edinburgh.
to his master that he only left the
kept watch over the grave. So devoted was Bobby
Greyfriars’ Bobby into a film. In
Churchyard for food. Walt Disney made the story of
Greyfriars Churchyard to
1873, after Bobby had died, a statue was erected in
commemorate the famous terrier.
Time Travel...future,
past, present...
DOG BOY isn’t really a play about time travel but some
rather strange
things happen to time in the play. Remember the begin
ning and end of
the play? Dan imagines his future self and what will
have become of
him... What does he think he’ll be?
Also , in the house, Dan asks the Professor if he is
who Dan will
become... “Are you me?” says Dan. Weird. What’s all
that about, then?
(Didn’t you think the Professor looked a bit like the
older Dan we meet
at the start and end of the play...think about it).
5. GELERT
out hunting from his home
One day, hundreds of years ago, Prince Llewellyn went
son. When he got home,
baby
in the woods and left his dog, Gelert, to guard his
that the dog’s mouth
saw
Gelert looked worried and tired, and Prince Llewellyn
he was not in his
but
son,
was covered in blood. The Prince rushed to his baby
floor. Llewellyn
the
to
fallen
cradle. Spots of blood lay on a bed cover that had
. He knew that
sword
his
with
went crazy with grief and anger and killed Gelert
for his son and
grief
with
wept
the dog must have killed the baby child. Llewellyn
Suddenly, he
him.
yed
betra
for the dog he had trusted and loved, but had so
found his baby
and
sound
the
heard another person crying - a baby. He followed
y was the
Nearb
tree.
a
e
son, alive and well, lying under a pile of leaves besid
ke. The
mista
le
terrib
his
ed
bloodstained body of a wolf. Prince Llewellyn realis
protect
to
it
killed
and
wolf
wolf had tried to kill the child. Gelert had fought the
trees.
the
under
place
safe
a
the baby, and had carried the baby in his mouth to
of
Grave
the
for
h
(Wels
t
Geler
Llewellyn buried Gelert and named the place Bedd
dog.
loyal
Gelert) in honour of his brave and
NGE
6. THE MAJOR’S REVE
time he died he had
Scotland. At the
In 1876 Major Stewart died in his big, old country house in
that he had often said if he returned
so
much
so
,
14 dogs and he loved them very much indeed
ite black spaniel. Sadly, after he
to Earth after his death he would want to come as his favour
died his family had all 14 dogs put to sleep.
soon they started to hear and see
The Major’s nephew and his wife moved into the house and
imes fill a room and the Major’s
strange things. A strange smell, like wet dogs, would somet
scampering up and down the stairs.
nephew would sometimes hear what sounded like animals
d and broke, for no reason at all.
groun
the
to
d
One day, a vase on a low table suddenly crashe
s over the summer - he was keen
The Major’s nephew decided to rent the house out to visitor
days they left, complaining of
to get away for a while. People moved in, but within a few
e thumping noises against the
something invisible pressing against their legs, and of strang
invisible tails?)
doors and furniture (could this have been the wagging of
to rent it for two
paid
had
they
gh
althou
,
After one week the people left the house
her a group of
toget
got
He
thing.
last
one
try
months. The Major’s nephew decided to
house to see what happened....
20 friends who were willing to spend one night in the
noises and strange feelings in
For the first few hours the guests tried to explain the
the wind was blowing, the
ordinary ways. They said the water pipes were rusty,
them refused to go to bed,
of
many
e,
bedtim
servants were making a noise....but by
bottles and pokers as they sat in
they were so afraid, and some armed themselves with
the drawing room.
the room. It raced around the
Suddenly, a black spaniel appeared in the middle of
from and just as soon as it
tables and chairs. No-one knew where it had come
owned a spaniel. The only spaniel
appeared it was gone, melting into thin air. No-one
had belonged to Major Stewart.
any of the guests could remember was the one that
ges and left the house. NoIn the middle of the night, the guests called for carria
one ever returned there.
Also, the Professor tells Dan to look into Bendy’s
eyes. He seems to
be saying that Bendy looks a lot like Dan’s dog, Digge
r...
Why Not?
1. Think about who you want to be in twenty years time.
Dan imagines he’ll be a vet,
living in the countryside. Do you know what you want
to be?
Try making two versions of yourself in a story or as
a drawing. First, think about
your likely future - really based on the kind of perso
n you think you are now, and
all the things you enjoy doing, what might you be up
to when you are older?
Then think about your wildest dreams - if you could
be anything you wanted, what
would it be? Why not aim for the goal of your dreams?
2. Imagine that you are Bendy and Dan’s teachers. Write
end of year reports for their
progress in different subjects (Think about the things
we learn in the play - for
example, we know Dan hates PE). Include in the report
suggestions for ways in which
they can both attempt to make new friends, and possib
ly to improve on behaviour.
3. Take photographs of either your own pet or one
that belongs to a relative or
friend. Use these to make a picture collage. Ask family
members and friends to
write down on coloured cards memories of their own
pets and use these with
your own written comments to decorate your pet collag
e.
4. Imagine you have been asked to set up an advic
e website at school. Pupils will
be able to access the website to download advice and
information on a wide
range of topics including bullying and the death of
a family pet. With a small
group, decide what topics you will feature on the websi
te and the advice you
will offer to those who visit it.
5. With friends or others in your class, make freeze
-frames of the pictures you
imagine would appear in Dan’s family photo album
for when he is aged 10, 15,
20, 30 and 45. In the pictures, show if Dan keeps in
touch with Bendy and if he
ever revisits the Professor’s House. Does he becom
e a vet, as he hopes? Invite
all the 5 Dans to take part in a special TV programme
called THIS IS MY LIFE!
Interview the older Dan about what it was like growi
ng up and in particular ask
him to recall memories of Digger, Bendy and Gran.
6. Speak to members of your family including grand
parents, aunties, etc., and ask
each person to choose a favourite piece of music.
Compile a CD / tape
containing all the chosen tracks. Design a cover and
write some background
notes about the music and artistes featured on your
compilation.
7. Divide a sheet of paper into 12 squares. Use these
squares to create a comic
strip version of DOG BOY or of any of the other storie
s in this booklet. This is
harder than you think. You need to decide on the 12
most important moments in
the story - and write a caption, or speech bubbles
for each of the ‘frames’.. This
kind of comic strip is very like a storyboard. Film make
rs make story boards to
help them plan out their films. Maybe you could turn
yours into a movie.
Answers
1. Fiction 2. True 3. True 4. True 5. Legend 6. Superstition
Here’s a few more dogs who
.
..
Y
O
B
G
O
D
in
n
o
ti
n
e
m
a
t
ge
ES!
WEREWOLVthey?
) All around
Werewolves are imaginary creatures (or are
into
the world there are ancient stories of men turning
the
roam
who
s
wolves, and of half- human, half-wolf beast
e
chang
who
ns
huma
land. Werewolves are often thought to be
form
ike
wolf-l
their
into wolves when there is a full moon. In
, and
they grow thick hair on their skin, howl at the moon
ls.
attack humans and other anima
SIRIUS
Also known as the Dog Star, Sirius is the brightest star in the
night sky. Sirius is 51 million trillion miles away and is one of
the closest stars to Earth. It can be seen from all over the
world. The Ancient Egyptians believed that sighting Sirius was
a good omen as it represented the rising of the River Nile and
was a sign that there would be a good harvest. Egyptian
temples were built so that the light of Sirius entered the inner
chambers. In mythology, the Dog Star represents the faithful
dog of Orion, the Hunter, also depicted as a constellation of
stars in the night sky.
PERITAS
Alexander the Great (born in 356 B.C.) became King of
Macedonia. At his death aged 33, he was ruler of almost the
entire world. Alexander loved animals and when his beloved
dog, Peritas, died he made a law that the dog must be
honoured with the same grand funeral as a King or Queen
would be given. Each year, on the anniversary of the dog’s
death, there was a special ceremony to remember him.
ANUBIS
, one of
The Ancient Egyptians worshiped many Gods. Of these
of a
head
the
with
God
the most important was Anubis, the
tery).
ceme
(the
polis
dog. Anubis was guardian of the Necro
souls of
In Egyptian mythology, Anubis was said to guide the
world.
Under
the
of
those who had just died to Osiris, ruler
happen
d
shoul
what
e
Osiris would then judge them and decid
.
to their souls
WRITING DOG BOY...
and some tips for writing a play of your own, from... Amanda Dalton.
Are the characters in DOG BOY based on
real people?
in both Dan and Bendy, and quite a lot of
Yes and no. They’re all made up, but there’s a lot of me
good tip for writing to use bits of real
my mum in Gran. Writers often do this, I think, and it’s a
e partly made up, new people.
people and situations but also to let your characters becom
but also fresh and true to themselves.
Hopefully, this mixture makes your characters seem real
ironing, just like Gran - but she
My mum was a dancer, and was rubbish at cooking and
bly thinking of her when I wrote that.
didn’t drink gin and tonic. My nanna did - I was proba
school. I hated and was scared of
For five years I, like Bendy, didn’t go to an ordinary
(Mind you, I loved it later on. I
school when I was little, and ended up refusing to go.
y and fidgety like Bendy - but I
think I was cured by then). I was also noisy and cheek
animals (still do) and always wanted
didn’t break into people’s houses. Like Dan, I loved
to be a vet.
If I want to write a play, what should I do?
You should write it! And when you’ve written it, get some
friends to read it out loud with you
and, better still, act it out. The words on the page are
not all there is of a play. Plays come to
life when they’re performed. Here’s a few things to think
about if you are writing a play rather
than a story.....
• In a play your characters can be seen, they can do
things and they can speak and react to
other characters. That sounds obvious, but it’s different
from a story where we can’t see
(although we can imagine) and where you can write descr
iptions and thoughts. You can’t
do that in a play.
• Dialogue (speaking) is the main thing you write down in
a play. Each of your characters will
have their own particular way of talking. People don’t all
talk the same; they don’t use the same
words and they don’t all talk the same amount. Remember
this when you write your dialogue. It
needs to sound realistic - the way your character would
really talk.
•Each scene in your play needs to tell a bit more of the story
and show us new things about your
characters. It sometimes helps to plan out your play before you
write it. Decide what will be in each scene.
•Think about where your play takes place. Different
scenes can happen in different
places (In DOG BOY the three places are Dan’s kitche
n, the Spooky House, and the
Wasteland - rough land where Bendy plays). Don’t
have too many different places or
this will be hard to follow. Think about why your scene
s will be set where they are and
use simple stage directions (instructions for the Direc
tor and the Actors) to explain
where scenes happen and a few details like how you
want the characters to be dressed
(in theatre this is called costume).
Did You Know...
FRED and GINGER
are not two dogs or cats! They were Fred Astaire and
Ginger
Rogers, two
famous film stars.
In the 1950s, Dan’s
Gran and Grandad
performed a song
and dance act in
Theatres and Music
Halls. Their act
included a tribute
to Fred and Ginger.
Fred and Ginger appeared in a number of musical films
made
during the 1930s. Their good looks, stylish clothes,
singing and
FANTASTIC dancing - especially
tap-dancing - made them hugely
popular. As a solo singer, Fred
Astaire recorded many albums and
had songs especially written for
him by leading composers of the
time including George Gershwin
and Cole Porter.
By the way, Fred and Ginger’s
real names were Frederick
Austerlitz and Virginia
Katherine McMath.
Ask your Grandparents if they remember any of Fred
and
Ginger’s best known films:
FLYING DOWN TO RIO (1933)
TOP HAT (1935)
SWING TIME (1936)
SHALL WE DANCE? (1937)
THE BARKLEYS OF BROADWAY (1949)
death?
What made you write about a sad thing like
about real things that happen to us
I wanted to write a play for young people that was
young people about something as
all..I think adults sometimes find it hard to talk to
face in different ways at different
difficult as death, but it’s something we all have to
talk about it and think about what
times in our lives, and I think it’s good to sometimes
be SO upset when any of my pets
we each believe. I remember when I was little I would
whole ceremony of burying them,
died (I had a dog, cats, guinea pigs and mice). The
s, and it being OK to be sad and then
making a grave in the garden, keeping photograph
tant. In the play, Dan hasn’t
to remember them happily - all of that was really impor
can’t face up to what has
really done that grieving so I think he’s got stuck and
Spooky House makes Dan think
happened to his dog. What happens in the Professor’s
s it wrong to try to bring an animal
about his beliefs and he is very clear that he think
ted Digger’s death. That’s really
back to life. By the end of the play I think he has accep
important, and a kind of happy ending, I hope.
Good luck, and
enjoy yourself.
Writing plays is
great fun.
The Professor and the story of
Frankenstein
a great writer called Mary Shelley. Since then,
FRANKENSTEIN was first written as book in 1818, by
similar to the book; others which aren’t.
it has been made into lots of films, some of which are
ntly clever. He decides he will do
Frankenstein is a student studying science. He is brillia
by making a human creature out of
something no-one has done before: he will cheat Death
He works on his experiment in secret, and
corpses (dead bodies) and try to bring it back to life.
he succeeds in making a monster.
in’s laboratory. It longs for friendship and
The monster comes to life and escapes from Frankenste
Soon, the monster turns to evil........
understanding but everyone it meets is scared of it.
of dog. His reasons are a bit different from
In DOG BOY, the Professor is trying to make a kind
by bringing back to life something that has
Frankenstein’s, but he is still trying to cheat Death
he is doing is very wrong “probably the
died. Dan is horrified and tells the Professor that what
evilmost thing anyone could ever do”.
Ghosts
Ghosts and haunted houses appear in books and films
as different
as HARRY POTTER and SCOOBY DOO. The whole subje
ct of ghosts
and spirits is sometimes called the PARANORMAL. Peopl
e who
study the paranormal have gathered evidence on video
and
audiotape to help try and prove the existence of ghost
s.
Some people have not seen ghosts but instead have
experienced
objects mysteriously being moved off tables and books
helves
without any obvious explanation. This type of ghost
is known as a
POLTERGEIST.
Like UFOs, ghosts remain a phenomenon, which scien
tists have
been unable to explain. Ghost stories such as the one
Dan’s Gran
tells in DOG BOY have been passed down from gener
ation to
generation. As long as people are still scared by stran
ge buildings
and noises, ghost stories will continue to entertain
and frighten
for many years to come.
Why Not?
Why Not?
, from
1. Write a ghost story about visiting a spooky house
s at
sound
e
strang
heard
have
e
peopl
which it is rumoured
ns
happe
t
g.Wha
barkin
dogs
and
howls
night including wolf
igate?
invest
to
house
the
when you go inside
stories 2. Write a poem, story or play based on one of these
the
g)
ovisin
(impr
up
g
makin
story,
or try acting out the
to go
music
some
e
Choos
.
along
go
you
dialogue (words) as
e....
rmanc
with your perfo
Try to
3. Stories and storytelling are important in DOG BOY.
by
told
are
that
s
storie
other
remember some of the
tells
different characters. Can you remember the story Gran
ing
dress
the
in
ghost
a
saw
ad
Grand
about the time Dan’s
at
room at the Hippodrome? And Bendy’s story of a boy
Dan
gives
ssor
Profe
The
ire?
vamp
a
was
he
said
school who
and
,
a long account of what he does in the spooky house
why the dogs are there. Take one of these stories from
see if
memory and either re-write it in your own words or
you can perform it.
or ghosts.
4. Make some masks - of werewolves, dogs, ghouls
shapes,
You will need to draw the outline and features (eye
right
the
nose or snout and mouth) onto a sheet of card
make
and
mask
size to fit your face. Paint or colour in the
cut
Also
go.
would
two holes round about where your ears
piece
a
d
Threa
ils.
nostr
out the eye shapes and maybe some
.
mask
the
wear
can
you
of elastic through the side holes so
head - make some lists of all the ‘fors’
and ‘againsts’ and think of some of the
situations where deciding what you
believe might be difficult.
4. Mime the Professor’s dog-monster
machine (and decide who will be the
dog!). In groups of about 6, decide
what are the main parts of the
Professor’s machine: wheels, cogs,
flashing lights etc. Stay completely still
at the beginning then gradually build up
your own “electricity.” End the
presentation at the point where Dan
smashes the machine.
1. Discuss whether or not you agree with
Dan? Why do you think Dan believes that
what the Professor is doing is “evil”?
After all, Dan wants his dog back more
than anything in the world - so why isn’t
he prepared to give this experiment a try?
2. Put the Professor - or Frankenstein - on
trial. Decide whether you want to speak
FOR or AGAINST the idea of using
scientific knowledge to create a living
creature or human being out of
corpses. Now argue the case.
3. Think about some modern scientific
5. Instead of acting the machine, design
experiments and research. For example:
and draw it onto paper. Remember to
• Cloning
label all the parts.
• Transplanting animal’s hearts (usually
6. Imagine that like Doctor Frankenstein
pigs) into human beings
and the Professor you are able to bring
• Cosmetic surgery
scary monsters and mysterious
How are these different to what the
creatures to life. Draw a picture of the
Professor or Frankenstein are doing? Are
monster you make in your laboratory. In
they different at all? These are difficult
the new SCOOBY-DOO films some of the
and complicated ideas about right and
monsters are based on Zombies, Black
wrong - sometimes called ETHICS. Whole
Knights and Evil masked figures. You
books have been written discussing some
may want to use a head and limbs from
of these ideas, and people will often have
some of these monsters to make your
very strong views about the rights and
own creature! When you have drawn the
wrongs of some kinds of scientific and
monster draw another one and write a
medical research. These views might be
short story about what happens when
based on many things including religious
the monsters escape from your
beliefs, or morals, or about using animals
laboratory. Don’t forget to include lots
for experimentation, What do you think?
of green slime in your pictures!
Try not to just say the first thing in your
SO YOU WANT TO BE...
Interested in becoming an actor, director or working
behind the scenes? If you are then read the following
advice from people who have worked on DOG BOY and
who knows one day it may be your name appearing in a
Royal Exchange Theatre programme!
An Actor
A Sound Designer
A Director
Direct a lot of plays and
Use your ears and listen to lots of learn everything that
you can about the
different sounds and work out how
theatre. It’s also
you could recreate them on stage.
To be a good sound designer you important to learn from
other people, being a
really have to understand how
theatre works and how plays are put good director is all
JERRY KNIGHT SMITH &
about keeping an open
together.
CAMILLA EVANS - Casting
mind and being
GERRY MARSDEN
interested in what is
A Set Designer
going on in the world around
you.
There
are a lot of obstacles to
Go to the theatre a lot and have fun! If you
becoming
a
theatre director and it’s
love the theatre and have a lot of enthusiasm,
important
to
keep going on and not
then you already have the best building
to
become
too disheartened.
blocks for beginning a career as a Designer.
If you want to be a stage actor,
start now by watching as many
plays as you possibly can.
Ultimately the best way of
becoming an actor is going to a
drama school.
LUKE HUNT
JACOB MURRAY
The Wardrobe
Supervisor
A Stage Manager
Obtain as many qualifications as you
It’s a very specialist area of the
can and work backstage on school plays
Theatre to work in and you really
and youth theatre productions. The
need to go to College to study
more experience you have the more
costume design. If at all possible
likely it is that one day you will get a
try and gain some experience of
job in the theatre.
working in the Theatre both fitting
and making costumes. You will also KEITH BROOM - Technical Stage Manager
need good sewing skills and a
detailed knowledge
of fashion and
The Lighting Designer
what clothes are
See as much theatre as you can, including plays, ballet,
currently available
musicals and opera and look at the different lighting effects
on the High Street.
that have been used. A good way of learning about lighting is
TRACY DUNK
to study the natural world. The sun is the source of the
biggest lighting effects ever produced! If you study the sun
you can learn about using different colours and how light
bounces off clouds, buildings and objects.
RICHARD OWEN
WHO DOES WHAT?
- Behind the scenes with DOG BOY.
As well as the actors who have spent weeks rehearsing the play, another group of
people have been very busy working behind the scenes at the Royal Exchange
Theatre to get DOG BOY ready for opening night.
Read the following job descriptions and then match them up with the quotes from
some of the people who have been working behind the scenes on DOG BOY.
JOB DESCRIPTIONS
A Director
is responsible for working with the
actors and everyone backstage to
bring a production to life in front of
an audience.
The Stage Manager
A Set and Costume
Designer
is responsible for everything that happens
on stage including the actors and the
people who work behind the scenes and
also finds furniture and props that are used
in the production.
creates the world of the play using scenery
and props and also designs the costumes
for the actors to wear on stage.
The Wardrobe Supervisor
creates costumes based on the Designer’s ideas and
original drawings. They also work with the actors to
make sure that they are comfortable wearing their
costumes on stage.
QUOTES
‘One of my first jobs will to be mark out on the rehearsal
room floor, the outline of the DOG BOY set. In rehearsals
this will help the actors and the Director work out how
they will move around on the stage during the
performance. I will also be making wonky cakes, which
will be eaten during the play!’
spend a lot of time watching
actors in TV programmes and
performing in plays in theatres all
over the country. They suggest to
a Director the names of actors
who they think are suitable to
play particular roles in a play
The Sound
Designer
records all the music and sound
which is used in the production and
makes sure that all the speakers
and sound equipment are properly
positioned on stage.
‘I will read through the play with the actors and
discuss their relationship with the other
characters. I will also work out with them where
and how they will move around the stage.’
‘Before we started thinking about casting DOG BOY
we read the play and discussed it with the Director.
We started casting for the production about four
weeks before the play went into rehearsal.’
JACOB MURRAY
JERRY KNIGHT SMITH & CAMILLA EVANS
‘In the first
stages of
the design
process, I
discussed with the
Director where the
audience would sit. I then
built a rough model of the
set using card. This
enabled myself and the
Director to decide where
we should put the main
pieces of the set.’
‘I will be looking to create sounds, which provide a
lot of atmosphere for the audience. In particular, I
want to use a lot of strange noises and low hums
for the scenes in the Haunted House. I’m going to
record dogs barking and then by using a computer
will change them so that they sound more
unnatural. I will also be recording other effects for
DOG BOY including the sounds of birds singing and
a radio playing.’
‘After deciding on the basic idea
for the set, I then made a more
detailed set model and added
some colour to it.’
GERRY MARSDEN
LUKE HUNT
RICHARD OWEN
Box Office 0161 833 9833
Written and researched by Royal Exchange Theatre Education and
Marketing Departments. For further information call the Education
Department on 0161 615 6780
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 255424
looks after all the lighting
requirements for a
production and works closely
with the Director to create
the right atmosphere for the
play on stage
Casting Directors
‘I’ll try and make the lighting dark and
mysterious and will be using gobos to
achieve lots of different effects.
(Gobos are thin, small pieces of metal,
which have patterns, cut out of them.
They are put behind the lens of a
stage light to create specific lighting
effects, such as light coming through
a window). In the play I want to give
the impression that the lighting will be
coming through windows, shutters and
broken floors.’
JULIA WADE
The Lighting
Designer
Royal Exchange Theatre, St Ann’s Square, Manchester M2 7DH
‘I won’t have to make any costumes
for DOG BOY, as we will be using
costumes, which will either be
bought especially for the show or
will be selected from items that we
already have in our wardrobe store.’
TRACY DUNK
The Dog Boy Resource Pack is
kindly sponsored by Barclays. In
2003 Barclays global commitment
to the community amounted to
£32.8 million, which includes 1% of
UK pre-tax profits. As one of the
UK’s largest corporate community
contributors, the bank aims to
achieve real and lasting benefit for
both the community and Barclays,
supporting arts, education, social
inclusion, people with disabilities
and the environment.