BUDDING actors were given the chance to show their pedigree when a special four-legged guest dropped in to say hello.

Ariel Company Theatre’s Othellos special needs groups welcomed a new member to its ranks – two-year-old labradoodle Olly.

The group meets at the Jubilee Community Centre in East Grinstead every Saturday and at St Wilfrid’s Catholic School in Crawley on Sundays to learn all aspects of performing arts. Their new recruit might not make the next Fiddler on the Woof, but he really brought out the best in the youngsters.

Olly’s visit was the brainchild of Othellos tutor Matt Godfrey, who felt that the students would benefit from an animal therapy session.

The students actively worked with Olly, a trained dog, giving him commands such as sit, stay and roll-over and rewarded him with treats.

Mr Godfrey said: “The students really enjoyed the opportunity of giving the instructions to Olly and were delighted when he reacted to their wishes – it was beaming smiles all round.

“They learnt a lot about interacting with animals and training them, overall the animal therapy session was a huge success.

“Workshops such as these have been shown to be a great success for people with learning difficulties, providing an enjoyable sensory experience and an opportunity to explore through texture and sound.”

In the Othellos classes, students are supported by Ariel Academy Buddies.

These Ariel Buddies are students of all ages who commit to helping and building close bonds with the Othellos, who display a range of needs from being wheelchair-bound to having conditions such as Downs Syndrome, Asperger’s and Autism. Mr Godfrey said: “In class, the Buddies enable everyone to be treated equally and students have the opportunity to dance, sing and act in a safe, fun environment.”