THEY say you have to be barking mad to work with animals but one Glasgow director wants a room full of furry friends ...

Michael Lewis, 49, has penned a three act farce to be performed at the city's comedy festival next month and he's holding a casting session for the role of a dog on Friday.

In his hunt for Spaniel Day Lewis, Michael will hold the open audition at Webster's theatre, at Lansdowne Church, on Great Western Road at 6pm.

He said the role would be better suited to a smaller dog, but the only criteria is it must have the "aw" factor.

Michael, a manager with Quarriers charity, said: "We need a talented dog that can perform a trick.

"It doesn't have to be any particular breed but the cuter the better!

"It's got to have the aw factor.

"It's a very small part. It comes on, does a trick and is taken off the stage."

Michael, of Crookston, wrote the play Walking Shadows for Lourdes theatre group at Cardonald when he was involved with them for a couple of years.

He said: " I used my dog, Buddy, a Bichon Frise, in our production of Walking Shadows last year and he danced.

"The actor had a treat for him in his hand, he came on and gave us a twirl.

"The trick could be anything. The dog just needs to have the right temperament and get on with people."

He said Walking Shadows is set in the world of amateur theatre. The first act is about auditions, the second is the performance and the third - which includes the dog's moment of fame - is about the "backstage antics."

All of the 13 human roles - including one child - have been cast.

Michael, who trained as an actor "a long time ago", has been involved with amateur dramatics for several years as a hobby.

He urged any budding canine stars to come along to the audition from 6pm and said the section starring the dog had been a favourite with audiences when the play was performed in Cardonald.

Glasgow International Comedy Festival will be held at locations across the city from March 12 to 29.

Headline acts include Jimmy Carr, Hardeep Singh Kohli and Al Murray, plus Evening Times columnist and tv presenter Michelle McManus.

Walking Shadows will be performed from March 25 to 28. Tickets are £9 and £11. Call 0141 357 4000 to book.