A PLAY about hate crime is coming to Newport this week.

“Just a bit of banter” was at the Pen and Wig pub, in Stow Hill, last night and will be at the Riverfront on Saturday as part of Gwent Police’s ‘We stand together’ festival.

Reality Theatre director Juls Benson said: “We wanted to focus on the impact of hate crime and, in the play, we have young Muslim woman, a transgender person and a physically disabled man who are suffering hate crime on the hands of one family.”

Ms Benson said that the theatre company has been going for a year and that they had their first play in July 2016.

Their plays are always about social issues, she added, and they have covered topics such as male mental illness and domestic violence.

“We are Newport’s only pub theatre company,” she said. “Most people who come to see us do not normally go to the theatre, but will come to the pub to watch a play.

“Our aim is to try to change people’s view about theatre and to try to change attitudes through theatre.”

All the profits made from “Just a bit of banter” will be donated to the Sophie Lancaster Foundation, which focus on creating respect for and understanding of subcultures in our communities.

Gwent Police’s ‘We stand together’ will run from 12pm to 5pm on Saturday and is open to everyone.

There will be a host of fun activities for all of the family, including a cultural café and live performances.