Dog with its own seat at theatre

For one woman, however, the biggest star to tread the boards was a little Cairn Terrier called Jenny.

Twelve years ago, Doris Sofio's four-legged companion was plucked from a cast of hopefuls to land the role of Toto in a production of the Wizard of Oz.

Jenny was an immediate hit with both the cast and, more importantly, the audiences and soon became known as Glasgow's Toto.

Sadly, Jenny passed away nine years ago, but her name will live on in the King's Theatre, thanks to their new seat sponsorship scheme.

While other theatre-lovers have signed up to the scheme, which offers members of the public the opportunity to dedicate a new theatre seat to a loved one, favourite actor or even themselves, Doris has dedicated a seat in memory of "her Toto".

It's a fitting tribute, says the 73-year-old from Milngavie, to a little dog who brought a smile to the faces of so many.

"Jenny was a wee star," says Doris. "She was the only one of my dogs who was ever in the theatre and I was so proud of her.

"She was a great part of our lives and I thought it would be nice that, rather than dedicate the seat to a long-lost human being, to dedicate it to Jenny."

For around £300 members of the public can have a permanent plaque with the name of their loved one and a personal message on their chosen seat.

Around 1000 seats in the stalls and grand circle will be replaced later this year at a cost of £350,000.

The scheme is part of a £7.2million facelift of the Bath Street theatre which should be completed in time for the Commonwealth Games in 2014.

Doris, a lifelong fan of the theatre has chosen her favourite seat, Row A, seat 18, to have the little memorial plaque to Jenny.

It will read: My darling Cairn terrier Jenny: Toto, Wizard of Oz, 1996'.

"I'll probably sit in that seat and cry," laughs Doris.

JENNY'S week-long stint at the King's as Dorothy's trusted companion in the panto started a glittering stage career.

"She was in every single performance," recalls Doris. "I used to take her into the theatre and I sat through every performance then took her for a walk before taking her back home.

"A year later Giles Havergal from the Citizen's Theatre phoned me and said they were doing the Wizard of Oz and could they maybe use my Toto."

Jenny cemented her reputation as Glasgow's most famous dog by appearing in a further 82 performances of the perennial favourite at the Citz alongside future Still Game star Jane McCarry.

"When Jenny was in both shows," laughs Doris, "she would come home at night and start barking away. I'm sure the older dog gave her a look which said; oh, here we go again!'"

Doris has long been a well-kent face at the King's and she claims to have hardly missed a show, especially musicals.

"I've been coming here since I used to collect autographs at the stage door when I was 10," she says.

"I love musicals such as Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. I've seen that three or four times.

"Mostly I go myself because my husband, Bill, falls asleep," she laughs. "I'm not paying the money for him to have a nap."

One person who wouldn't dream of catching 40 winks during a performance is Anne Frances Mansbridge.

Like most theatre lovers, Anne Frances' long-standing love affair with the theatre began with pantomime.

As a young girl, Anne Frances's dad, Thomas, would treat his daughter to a magical day out at the King's. "My dad used to bring me to the pantomime every year when I was a wee girl," recalls Anne Frances, 43, a complementary therapist from Hamilton. "We came almost every year right up until he died five years ago.

"It was always a special outing for us. We always made a day of it and would come to the matinee and then go to Harry Ramsden's for fish and chips. It was a special day out."

Anne Frances has chosen to immortalise her happy memories by sponsoring a seat in memory of her dad.

"I have so many happy memories of sitting in the front row of the grand circle with my dad," she says, "all through my childhood, teenage years and adulthood.

He passed away five years ago and I am so happy to have this dedication.

"I think the sponsor a seat campaign is such a lovely way to remember my dad and support the King's Theatre."

Anne Frances is remembering her dad with a plaque which, when unveiled later this year, will read: For my Dad, Thomas Mansbridge. So many happy times spent here.' THE first time my dad took me to the panto," smiles Anne Frances, "must have been around 1973, when I was eight.

"I remember being in awe of the magnificent costumes. I remember coming to see Rikki Fulton and Stanley Baxter. There haven't been many years we missed."

Now Anne Frances is keeping the family's theatre tradition alive by taking mum Thomasina to shows. "We saw last year's panto, Cinderella, with Karen Dunbar - that was fantastic."

lFor more information on how to dedicate a seat call 0141 240 1300 or visit www.ambassadortickets.com/glasgow and scroll down and click on the news section.