THE Melbourne Fringe Festival has crowned Footscray’s Dog Theatre as Best Venue 2009, only a year after it opened its doors to the public.

The 50 seat theatre won the prize over about 145 theatres, bar, impromptu performance spaces and galleries from Melbourne.

The Dog made its Fringe Festival debut this year with All Excellent Men, a collection of one-man shows.

It was the first venue in the West to host events for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival this year with acts The Doctor (In Spite of Himself), Swell and The Consumption.

Director Peta Hanrahan was thrilled with the award.

“This kind of thing only happens through the faith and support of those who participate,” she said.