Hungarian rescue dog Tara wins Of Mice and Men role

Tara has won the role of Candy's Dog in the King's Theatre production of Of Mice and Men. Picture: Greg Macvean

In her early years, the pooch was beaten and subjected to a harsh life on the streets of Hungary, but now her life has turned around and she’ll be playing the leading role of “Candy’s Dog” in the Touring Consortium Theatre Company’s stage adaptation of John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men.

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When Tara was around five, she was adopted by Lydia Gschosmann, 28, from Austria.

Dogs audition for the role of Candy's Dog. Picture: Greg Macvean

Lydia said: “Tara was very calm, very cute and looked for cuddles in a subtle way – that’s what attracted me to her.

“I think that’s how she managed to win the role at the audition on Monday.”

Tara, a mixed breed of Hungarian hunting dog and German Shepherd, fought off stiff competition from 35 other dogs who were all battling it out for the same role. But now the pooch, who lives on Leith Walk with Lydia, will star alongside veteran actor Dudley Sutton, who plays Candy in the show.

Lydia, who will be paid £300 for seven performances, added: “When we first got Tara she was really anxious around people but now she’s great, I take her everywhere with me.”

Matthew Gale, the producer of the show, said: “We had a fantastic turnout of really wonderfully behaved dogs. In the end, one could not ignore Tara’s star presence.”