Reviews

Head to head with seven tons of novelty dung
Tête à Tête Bridewell Theatre, London EC4
The Observer, Fiona Maddocks
Sunday 11 February 2001

Gary Carpenter drew on patriotic songs, bugle calls and martial music for his bizarre collaboration with Simon Nicholson. Doggone told the true story of 7,000 dogs recruited by the British Army in the First World War for active service in the trenches.

With absurdist ingenuity, these creatures were conveyed by pictures of the HMV gramophone dog staring out in military ranks from rows of metal music stands, which collapsed to surprise percussive effect at the end.

Damian Thantrey's acting skills as dog-cum-soldier were put to the test. He passed (on all fours) with flying colours and wagging tail.

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