The Australian premiere of Chicken In A Biscuit is a delightful celebration of cats, dogs, and the humans who serve them.

As a proud cat owner, it’s easy to say pets bring joy to our lives — but what about them? Are they hostages to our needs, whims, and choices, or is the love mutual? Chicken In A Biscuit explores both sides of the relationship with amusing thoughtful insight.

Written by Mary Rachel Brown and Jamie Oxenbould, this production is for anyone who’s ever wondered, “What does my cat or dog really think?” Performed by Oxenbould and Mandy Bishop, the duo both take on multiple creature and caretaker roles through a series of witty vignettes.

Zintra, the Burmese Blue with her strong European accent, delivers a  harsh judgement of new owner Lisa Wilson—mocking her and attacking her at night, convinced that this terminally single middle-aged overweight woman is not worthy of a cat of such pedigree. The playwrights lean into stereotypes, but it’s a hilarious skit, and Bishop perfectly captures the feline persona with dramatic death drops and micro-naps.

Bishop is equally convincing as Fonzie, a barking canine trapped in an electric collar, revealing his thoughts about his person’s new boyfriend, and later as Janelle Paws, owner of a rescue dog business.

Aside from Truffles, an aging chocolate Labrador, Oxenbould’s roles are a little more bizarre. Without giving too much away, let’s just say some humans take their animal obsessions to questionable extremes.

Pet parents will enjoy seeing themselves and their beloved fur friends in this work. Every familiar detail is there  — from the strange sleep positions and knowing looks, to the favourite scratch spots. But this isn’t silly humour; it spans the gamut of emotion from laughter that had front-row theatre-goers falling into the aisles to tears that were quietly wiped away (myself included).

Directed by Brown, Chicken In A Biscuit is hilarious, with moments of human behaviour that push the piece into mature-audience territory.

Kate Beere’s vibrant set design is reminiscent of Play School with pink, green and purple tones, a pet playground and colourful flooring. There are few props, save for a bag that captivates the cat’s attention, but projections and diagrams cleverly illustrate the olfactory superiority of animals. Costume design is a highlight, especially the blue velvet catsuit complete with bell, and a walking stick marking the older age of a floppy-eared, thirteen-year-old Labrador.

Chicken In A Biscuit will have you heading home to hug your furry companion — a show of drama, devotion and a lot of fur.

4 stars

Running for 80 minutes (no interval).

Presented by Fixed Foot Productions in association with Old Fitz. Playing until 18 October 2025.

For tickets visit Old Fitz Theatre