Seeing With My Dog

Seeing With My Dog

Synopsis

So Oliver's a visually impaired man who has a chimp on his shoulder called Twist and a Guide Dog in a harness called Jason. Oliver can talk to Jason and Twist. Jason can talk to Twist and Oliver. Oliver can't understand Jason but can understand Twist. And Fabian's offered to go out with Oliver but is disappointed he can't wear a harness like Jason. Oliver's a poet and Jason's a philosopher - and he's on Zoom with Merlin and Pippa who are guide dogs too. Kate from Guide Dogs can talk with Oliver and Jason but not Twist (who won’t shut up) and when a police helicopter...... Oh, just come to the play, it'll be far simpler...

A new play written by award-winning playwright and poet Roderick Dungate (Playing By The Rules, Birmingham Rep, Mentorn Best New Play Award; Friends of Oscar (BBC Radio Four).

Performances

Sense TouchBase Pears, Selly Oak
Wednesday 22 April (3pm)
Thursday 23 April (6pm)

Crescent Theatre, Birmingham
Friday 24 April (7.30pm)
Saturday 25 April (3pm & 7.30pm)

Access & Sensory Information

The production runs for approximately 110 minutes without an interval. Audience members are welcome to leave and return to the space without restriction.

The production contains dialogue-integrated audio description and is intended to be fully accessible to visually impaired and sighted audiences.

Pre-show visual notes are available, please email us at seeingwithmydog@gmail.com

Assistance dogs are, of course, welcome. Please indicate in the booking notes that you intend to bring your dog.

Audience members who require a personal assistant to attend are welcome to bring one free of charge. Please indicate this is in the booking notes.

The production includes:

• Spoken dialogue throughout (no extended silent sequences)

• Scenes featuring a guide dog and a chimp character (performed by actors; no live animals)

For any further enquiries, please email us at seeingwithmydog@gmail.com

Content & Thematic Warnings

This production contains:

• Themes of visual impairment
• Bereavement and grief
• Discussion of death
• References to discrimination and ableism
• Emotional discussions about dependency
• Occasional mild swearing
• References to romantic/sexual relationships
• References to alcohol use

Inclusion & Suitability Information

The play centres the lived experience of a visually impaired protagonist and engages thoughtfully with disability identity, agency and perception. Humour arises from character relationships rather than mockery of disability.

While presented as a comedy, the play explores loss and identity in a direct and sometimes emotionally raw way.

Recommended age: 12+

There are no depictions of:

• Graphic violence
• Assault/abuse
• Suicide
• Drug abuse