New rehearsal photography has been released, offering audiences a first look at the European premiere of Dog Man: The Musical ahead of its major UK tour. The production visits Wolverhampton Grand Theatre on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 August 2026.

Based on Dav Pilkey's globally bestselling Dog Man book series, this hilarious and heartwarming musical brings the beloved crime-fighting canine to life on stage. Pilkey is also the creator of the hugely popular Captain Underpants and Cat Kid Comic Club series. Following multiple sold-out Off-Broadway seasons and successful US tours, Dog Man: The Musical now makes its UK debut.

The musical features a book and lyrics by two-time Emmy Award winner Kevin Del Aguila (Peg + Cat), music by Brad Alexander (See Rock City & Other Destinations), and is directed and choreographed by Jen Wineman (Less Than 50%).

Since its debut in 2016, Dav Pilkey's Dog Man series has become a worldwide phenomenon, with more than 70 million copies in print across 48 languages. Five titles are currently among Amazon UK's top 50 bestselling children's books. Earlier in 2025, the DreamWorks animated adaptation enjoyed both critical acclaim and box office success, further cementing the franchise's popularity.

Originally produced by TheaterWorksUSA, Dog Man: The Musical premiered Off-Broadway at New York's Lucille Lortel Theatre in 2019, extending its run due to overwhelming demand before returning to New World Stages in 2023.

The story follows best friends George and Harold, who decide it's time to turn their favourite comic book hero into a musical. Their star is Dog Man - part dog, part policeman, and all hero. As they race to finish the show before lunchtime, Dog Man must stop the mischievous Flippy the cyborg fish, outwit the villainous Petey the Cat, and save the city from an army of Beasty Buildings.

Created by Dav Pilkey during his childhood, Dog Man has an inspiring real-life origin. Diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia, Pilkey spent much of his school days drawing comics while sitting outside the classroom. Those early sketches eventually became the adventures of Dog Man and Captain Underpants, inspiring millions of young readers around the world.

The cast features Vanessa Dumatey as Flippy, Sam Kipling as Petey, Peter Lavery as Harold, Ricardo Mendes as George, Rebecca-Jo Roberts as L'il Petey, and Renan Teodoro in the title role of Dog Man. They are joined by Richener Bissereth, Shannon Bourne, and Robert Wilkes.

Tickets for Dog Man: The Musical are on sale now at grandtheatre.co.uk.

Photo credit: Mark Senior