A one hour comedy about breast cancer, marital breakdown, family baggage and grieving – what could be funnier?

But Human Story Theatre’s new play, The Fourth Dog, by Oxford playwright, Zena Forster, manages to be just that – hilarious – while tackling some key issues many of us avoid.

“Everyone has got friends or family who have suffered from cancer and we wanted to highlight that and say something about it to raise awareness.

“Comedy seemed like the best way to do that because in those dark days, it’s often humour that gets people through and the tool that people rely on.

“Laughter is such a wonderful thing,” Gaye Poole says.

With first-hand experience of cancer herself, it is as important to Gaye as anyone to raise awareness, and provided the perfect incentive to not only get the resulting play The Fourth Dog out there, but to tour it extensively throughout Oxfordshire.

Launching at Offbeat Festival on Saturday, having beaten off stiff competition from hundreds of other applicants, The Fourth Dog depicts a wedding.

And unusual place to start then? “Weddings bring the whole family together, and that’s when the problems start,” actor/producer Amy Enticknap explains.

“It’s when the family skeletons start tumbling from the cupboard. So when the Burney clan assemble, the happy couple aren’t suited, the bride is pregnant, the groom is unsure, the mother is stressed, and the aunt is in disgrace having gate-crashed.

“The grandparents (who are on their fourth dog) haven’t stopped bickering for 60 years and don’t see why today should be any exception. And the icing on the cake? A couple of dead ancestors have turned up!

“So through comedy, what we set out to ask is what does it mean to be part of a family and how does our heredity influence the way we love and hate, live and die?”

Zena approached the Oxford-based theatre company about producing her play a year ago.

The Fourth Dog originally began life as a radio drama starring Sophie Thompson and went onto win the A Word in Your Ear – Earshot competition.

So what was the attraction? “As Human Story Theatre, we focus on new plays with a health and social care issue at heart, to replicate real life stories that resonated with local communities; people living with dementia, loneliness and for this play, breast cancer – human stories – and there we have it,” Gaye grins.

“We also partner with community organisations pertaining to the issues that arise in the plays we produce - in this case The Fourth Dog is being supported by Against Breast Cancer.

“We are also supporting Maggie’s Oxford, and holding one of our performances at their centre on The Churchill hospital site.

“This is particularly special to me," Amy adds, "as Maggie’s was an inspirational place of peace and support for my mother last summer.

“So for this production, alongside our usual post-show Q&A with representatives from charities supporting breast cancer care; audience members will also have the opportunity to browse ‘after thought tables’ to gain more information from wig-makers to nutritionists after some performances

“We will also be bringing a Bra Bank to each show for anyone to donate their used, new or surplus bras all of which will help raise vital funds for research into secondary spread breast cancer."

Dr Nicola Winstone, Research Manager, Against Breast Cancer reiterates their message:

“This isn’t only an entertaining play,” she says: “Human Story Theatre creates a space for discussion and to showcase relevant local organisations, and Against Breast Cancer are proud to support their latest production.”

The Fourth Dog has eight performances running from July 1-11 and after the OFS launch visits Richmond Village, Witney, on July 5 (01993 894000); Maggie’s Centre on July 6 (maggiescentres.org); Eynsham Village Hall on July 7; The Theatre, Chipping Norton on July 10 (01608 642350); and The Mill Arts Centre, Banbury on July 11 (01295 279002).