Guiseley Amateur Operatic Society has solved a casting problem for its production of Oliver! – thanks to a four-legged thespian called Stella, who will play Bill Sykes’s mutt, Bullseye.

“One of our members posted a comment on Facebook that he’d spotted a ‘perfect’ dog in Guiseley,” says society spokesman John Waite. “The post was spotted by Rick Greenwood, who played Nathan Detroit in our production of Guys And Dolls last year. He contacted the society as he has two Staffordshire bull terriers.”

One of Rick’s staffies, Stella, went to the theatre last weekend and was a hit with the cast.

“Once she’d settled down, she made her stage debut, walking on stage with the villainous Bill Sykes with aplomb!” says John. “It seems stage fright clearly affects dogs too, as Stella left a puddle on stage much to everyone’s amusement and Rick’s embarrassment.”

The society is holding auditions for the roles of Oliver and the Artful Dodger. Boys and girls aged seven to 13 are required.

Guiseley Theatre will be turned into Dickensian London for the show, based on Charles Dickens’s novel Oliver Twist. The show features numbers such as Where Is Love?, Consider Yourself and Who Will Buy.

Oliver! runs at Guiseley Theatre from February 24 to March 1. For tickets ring (0113) 2506434. For more about auditions, visit gaos.co.uk.