Panto star Doreen the Cat meets her own kind at cafe
One of the region's favourite characters took time out from her role in panto to make some new fur-ends.
Doreen Tipton, who is currently appearing in Dick Whittington at Birmingham Hippodrome as Doreen the Cat, paid a visit to Birmingham's Kitty Care at Grand Central on Monday to meet some of the furry residents.
The cafe is a place to enjoy a drink and a cuddle with a cat, and also acts as a cat sanctuary, housing up to 30 rescue cats before they find new homes. The money spent in the cafe contributes to helping the Kitty Cafe Rescue project.
Doreen entered the cafe dressed as Doreen the Cat and spent an hour lapping up the attention of the curious cats there.
Gill Jordan, who plays Doreen, said the visit had come about as the theatre was looking for cat-related places for Doreen to go to and found that it was a great image to see Doreen surrounded by cats, something Gill said she loved as well.
She said: "I am a huge lover of cats and all animals, so something like this was heaven on Earth for me, as well as Doreen who, as a 'lazy cow', got to lie on the sofa and just be surrounded by all the cats.
"It was really nice as they tell you not to over-stimulate the cats, but rather let them come to you and let them behave in a natural way, making it as relaxed as possible.
"It's just a really nice place to go for a relaxing and peaceful environment and is good for animal lovers."
In Dick Whittington Doreen has joined one of Britain’s most celebrated stars, Marti Pellow as The Ratman, Birmingham Panto favourite Matt Slack as Dick Whittington, TV Doctor and presenter Dr Ranj as Spirit of the Bells, musician Suzanne Shaw as Alice and Birmingham favourite Andrew Ryan as Felicity Fitzwarren.
With sets and costumes from The London Palladium, spectacular special effects and plenty of audience participation, Dick Whittington is a chance for audiences to come together and share the magic of live theatre.
Dick Whittington is at Birmingham Hippodrome until Sunday, January 29, and tickets can be booked at birminghamhippodrome.com or by calling 0844 338 5000*
*0844 calls will cost 4.5p per minute plus the phone company’s access charge.
