Whitworth Community High School’s production of Annie with Alfie, the dog

Amy Longstaff as Annie with Alfie as Sandy.

A real dog joined the cast when Annie was staged by Whitworth Community High School.

Alfie, who played Sandy, only got the role when drama teacher and Annie producer Alex White spotted him with his owner Sian Morton.

Sian, from Year 10, brought Alfie into school several times so he could get acquainted with his on-stage owner Amy Longstaff, who took the lead role.

He attended all the rehearsals and then for three nights joined the cast in the limelight as they performed before packed audiences in the school hall.

Amy, 13, said: “It went really well and it was really good fun getting to work with Alfie. At first he wouldn’t come to me but we spent some time together and he performed brilliantly on the nights. He wasn’t fazed by anything.

“I kept sausages in my hand and that worked to make Alfie do exactly what I wanted when I wanted it.

“It was the best experience ever. I have come so close to all the members of the cast. Some of them I never really knew but now they are all my friends.”

Amy is no stranger to the stage having landed a role in the English Youth Ballet’s production of Giselle in Bradford earlier this year.

She said: “That gave me the confidence to audition for this role and my drama teacher supported me.

“I love dancing, acting and singing so possibly I will want to do something to do with performing.”

Sian, 15, was astounded at how well behaved Alfie was on stage. She said: “He is never like that a home and he never comes to me. Appearing on stage has helped him, especially as everyone now comes up to him and fusses him.”

Head Teacher’s Personal Assistant Irene Banham said: “In my 40 years of watching shows, I have to say this was the best school production I have ever seen.”

The school’s teachers, students and former students and the school music service provided a live band to accompany the production.