Has your dog got what it takes to be a theatre star at the Regent in Hanley?

Could your dog have what it takes to be a star of the stage?

The Regent theatre is looking for a well-behaved small dog to star alongside opera stars in La Boheme.

A Staffordshire dog is needed to play the vital role of Muzetta's pet.

Qualities the judges are looking for will include: being well trained, small and well-behaved.

The successful winner will be in the spotlight twice on the stage, with the chance for the owner to also get their five minutes of fame.

Jon Owen, press officer for the Regent theatre said: 'This is a great chance to make your dog a local celebrity.

'People love their dogs and they are part of our families - and now people have an opportunity to make them a stage star as well.'

La Boheme, a romantic opera, is a one night performance coming to the Regent in March.

Award-winning opera director and producer Ellen Kent says she is looking for a small well-behaved canine with star quality to wow the crowd. She said: 'People say never work with children or animals but I love to do both.

'We're a nation of animal lovers after all. I'm sure there is plenty of doggie talent out there.'

Once a short-list of entries has been drawn up, they will be judged by a representative from the City Dogs Home in Bucknall, The Sentinel and the Ellen Kent theatre company.

If you think your pet deserves the chance to play the role

when La Boheme comes to the Regent Theatre on Friday March 21, send in your pictures. The dog will make two entrances during the show and will be on stage for around five to 10 minutes in total, and their owner must be prepared to appear beside them in costume to look after them.

La Boheme, which is sung in Italian with English surtitles, is based on Henri Murger's novel Scenes de la vie de boheme and focuses on the love between seamstress Mimi and poet Rodolfo. After immediately falling in love, Rodolfo later leaves Mimi due to her flirtatious behaviour, although he is wracked by guilt since their life together has probably worsened Mimi's delicate constitution. In true tragic opera fashion, the pair reunite briefly at the end before Mimi dies.

If your dog wins they'll be performing with international soloists that have been selected from across the world to take part in Chisinau National Opera and Philharmonic Orchestra's Spring tour, including international soloists soprano Elena Dee as Mimi and Olga Perrier, as Musetta and tenors Sorin Lupu and Petru Marcello.

To enter your dog, simply send a photograph with your name, address and contact number as well as the breed, height, weight, age and name of your dog to digital@thesentinel.co.uk.

The deadline for entries is Friday, February 28 at noon and successful applicants will be contacted to attend auditions in March. You must be prepared to bring your dog to the audition, which will take place at The Regent Theatre or The Victoria Hall, before the show on March 21.

Ellen added: 'It's a bit like the X-Factor for dogs. They come in and walk around, then we choose a winner and a runner-up so if the winner can't do it, the other does. It's basically a dog and an understudy, it's very cute.'

Tickets are now on sale and are available in person from The Regent Theatre Box Office, by calling 0844 871 7649 or visiting http://ift.tt/NLleAa.