The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

Theatre Royal Haymarket

Interview with Timo Tatzber

FINALLY, one of the shows we have all been awaiting to open at the Theatre Royal Haymarket is now OPEN. Yes, 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry' musical is here: with music and lyrics by the incredible Passenger. The story by Rachel Joyce is sure to grab the hearts of plenty of theatre fans. The show was well-received by audiences at the Chichester Festival Theatre last spring. A sold-out run! The West End needs something wholesome, and this could be the show!

This West End transfer stars Mark Addy as 'Harold Fry', and his wife is played by Jenna Russell. There is one character that is sure to bring smiles to the audience's faces, and that is 'Dog', who meets Harold on his journey. The puppet of 'Dog' is operated by Timo Tatzber, who previously played this role in the Chichester run of the show and has also starred in 'The Book Thief' that played for a short run at the Prince of Wales Theatre last October. This post is about all things DOG. I was lucky enough to have a conversation with hard-working Timo Tatzber about his role in the show and his experience operating Dog's puppet.

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Here's what we talked about:

Q: How have you explored Dog's character and made it your own?

A: The magical thing about puppetry is that there is so much that the puppet gives you before you even start using it. The puppet has so many opportunities and also limitations. There's only so much that you can do with the puppet. There's a set of things you can do, and you then have to choose what you do. In terms of character, it all happened quite organically and naturally, because you pick the Dog puppet up, and it has things it wants to do, and it also has things it doesn't want to do. It's a lot of instinct, which is fitting for a dog! It's a very instinct-driven performance. There's a design and mechanics to the puppet, so it gives you things, but also keeps you from doing other things. There are boundaries, and it needs those for the character to appear real.

Q: What previous experience do you have with puppets?

A: My first puppeting experience was a job I did with Tom Jackson Greaves, who is the choreographer for this musical. Which was around a year ago. The puppet in this show was different to Dog. It was a puppet that was attached to our costumes, and it was like a slug/alien creature that lived under a bed. But, in terms of proper puppets, this is my first real experience with this sort of puppet. My training was in acting, so this is an additional skill that is interesting.

Q: How has working with puppets developed your acting style?

A: My answer is a little similar to the previous answer, in that there are certain limitations and rules with puppets. You take the performance and break it down into its simplest pieces. Working with puppets is all about focus and breath. You use breath for impulse and inspiration. Translating that to normal acting, having this skill makes you simplify everything. It makes you think about what you are doing with your focus, how you use your breath and body in the space. It's a bit more stylised. I'm also covering the 'Balladeer', who is in this sylised realm and translating these skills into this role really works! It can live in this same magical world. It's interesting because, of course, the dog doesn't speak; he can't, there is focus, there's breath, and where do I position myself in the space? It all interjects.

Q: What does Dog's character mean to you, and what do you want the audience to feel?

A: What's really nice about Dog's character, in the story, is that they act as a canvas for the audience to paint whatever version of Dog that they want to see. The dog purposefully doesn't have a name or a gender. It is just a dog. What has been so special in the Chichester run is that people come in and see their own dog in this character. Audience members have spoken to me about how they have lost their own dog, and for a lot of them, it was really special to be able to feel like they've seen their dog one more time. The vagueness has created something really nice. It can be whatever the audience wants it to be.

Q: What is Dog's place in the show?

A: The show is about Harold, who goes on this massive journey and meets all these different people, from vastly different walks of life. These people have lived different lives from Harold's, but there is so much that connects them, and so much the audience can relate to from their own experiences. Dog is one of the companions he meets along the way. I think dogs, as an archetype, symbolise innocence and unconditional love. In the show, that's what Dog does: he gives Harold unconditional love, and Dog allows him to give it back. That's also something Harold needs when Dog joins his journey. He meets all these people who come and go, but Dog sticks with him. They start with a bumpy relationship. Harold isn't interested at first, but he grows to love Dog. Later on in the story Dog acts as a mirror into what is going on inside of Harold.

Q: How have you explored Dog's relationship with Harold, played by Mark Addy?

A: Mark is objectively the loveliest man in the world. It's a joy to stand on stage with him and be in any scene with him. He is so supportive, interested, and he gives so much to everyone else on stage. He's got such a hard job in the show! He basically doesn't leave the stage. During the Chichester run, he never left the stage! Now he gets a few opportunities to leave the stage and grab a quick water break here and there. The relationship formed quite naturally and instinctively. Another magical thing about a dog is that I try to approach every scene as a dog, as I would if I were a human character. I try to have an objective in each scene that I either achieve or don't. Each objective has obstacles. For Dog it's a bit simpler; there's one driving objective, for example: Stick, pizza, sleep or run. It's straightforward, and it allows for play within the scene! I could just exist and float around, but if I have something that drives my scene, even as the dog, it's really helpful. Everyone in the cast has been really helpful, and it's fun to play with. There's a character called Rich, and Dog keeps trying to steal his food; it's a thing we've established. They don't like each other, and he keeps trying to steal his food. Rich doesn't necessarily hate the dog; he just is like 'urg get off me'. It's a different way to find those relationships, but when the actors are all open to that and supportive, it works well.

Q: What do you enjoy about your role as 'Dog'?

A: It is those simple objectives. I do actually play other puppets in the show, which you will see! What's fun about playing an animal is that there are no restrictions in terms of what I can and can't do. Of course, I can't take off and fly! But if Dog wants to go and eat the pizza, then he will. If he wants to go and sniff someones butt, he will. If he wants to pee on the lamp post, then that's what is going to happen. I couldn't do that, but Dog can. I try to surprise the actors where I can, to give them something new to play with. That's something you do as an actor, you find those little moments where you can keep it fresh and light when you've been doing a show for so long. For example, Dog could go and steal one of the characters' bags. It can be challenging, because it is an external thing to me, but I think that's quite fun, and I can kind of go and find moments to mess about. It keeps everyone on their toes!

Q: Describe the show in one sentence?

A: Amazing cast, amazing show, it's a show that breaks you down and brings you back having gained something, it's life-affirming, and a show like this gives you a space to allow yourself to cry! It's so special.

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Make sure to book your tickets for this one. It is sure to be a show that will have a space in many theatre go'ers hearts. I'm counting down the days till I can see it. What an interesting and inspiring interview with Timo Tatzber.

Click HERE to book your tickets.