THE CAST of a new production of The Great Gatsby welcomed their four-legged namesake to Castle Howard this week.

Crufts-winner Primus Great Gatsby visited the cast of the show during their dress rehearsal at the historic house.

The Great Dane is a regular visitor to the house and is known by staff in the garden centre from visits with his owners, Therasa and Andrew Bailey.

Abbigail Ollive, head of marketing, for Castle Howard, said: "When Theresa heard that we would be bringing the interactive performance of The Great Gatsby, she contacted us to ask if he could meet his namesake – and we were delighted to oblige.

"He was beautifully well-behaved, and it was wonderful for the cast to be able to meet him during a break in rehearsals ahead of four evenings of live performances around the house."

Theatregoers attending the production of F Scott Fitzgerald's 'Great American Novel', will tour parties inside the mansion, under the direction of Alexander Wright, artistic director of The Flanagan Collective, associate company at York Theatre Royal, with choreography by Holly Beasley-Garrigan and sound design by Phil Grainger.

Tickets are still available for tonight's showing (FRIDAY), and Sunday's performance, with doors open from 7pm and prices starting at £25.

For more information go to castlehoward.co.uk