Guiseley Amateurs have solved a casting problem for their production of Oliver! – thanks to a four-legged thespian called Stella, who will play Bill Sykes’ mutt, Bullseye.

Stella will take the stage alongside actors including Keighley Playhouse regular Dale Chadwick and Keighley Amateurs leading lady Fiona Spencer.

Dale was seen on stage last month as a modern-day cowboy in the Playhouse production of American drama Bus Stop. Fiona played the principal boy in Keighley Amateurs’ production of the pantomime Mother Goose earlier this year.

Guiseley Amateurs spokesman, John Waite, said Stella was found after one of the Guiseley members posted a comment on Facebook.

He said: “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 earlier this month and was a hit with the cast.

“Once she had settled down, she made her stage debut, walking on stage with the villainous Bill Sykes with aplomb!” said John.

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 until Saturday. Call 0113 2506434 to book tickets.