A THEATRICAL performance with an unusual twist will premiere tomorrow.

Tin Shed Theatre’s production of Moby Dick will re-tell the tale of Ishmael’s voyage across the ocean in search of his great white whale, on the gondola of Newport Transporter Bridge.

Rachel Kinchin, of Tin Shed Theatre, said: “We don’t want to give away too much, and ruin the element of surprise, but it’s looking fantastic.

“A lot of the performance takes place on the gondola of the Transporter Bridge, but some takes place on the banks on the side. Performers and the audience will be on the gondola at some stages.”

Free tickets for the event were snapped up quickly, although a few are available for Pill residents and access audiences. These can be booked by contacting: ceboot@gmail.com

Performances will take place from October 3 until October 16, excluding October 6 and 10, with the ones between October 11 and October 14 including captioning and audio description.

The cast features mainly local professional and community actors, with the performance ending at around 9.30pm. There is no interval.

The production, in partnership with Newport City Council and First Campus, is funded by: Heritage Lottery Fund, Arts Council of Wales, Living Levels, Newport City Homes, Friends of the Medieval Ship, Pill Millennium Centre, and The Riverfront Theatre.

“The event is free, because of this funding, which worked out well, as people snapped up the tickets straight away,” explained Ms Kinchin.

“Everything is looking good, so fingers crossed for good weather.

“It would have to be really bad to be cancelled, because Moby Dick is dark and chaotic, so the weather sort of adds to the beauty of it.”

People attending this outdoor event should dress sensibly, in warm, waterproof clothes, and appropriate shoes. Umbrellas will not be allowed on the gondola.

If a performance is cancelled the audience will be notified by 5pm, at the latest, and the company will try to accommodate them for another night.

Parking will not be available at the Hotel or the Bridge, but guests can use the public car park, at the end of Mill Parade, which is best accessed from the roundabout on the A48 just north of the Bridge.

If travelling by bus, there is an hourly 41/40 service from Newport Bus Station, with the last one departing at 6pm. The stop closest to the Waterloo Hotel is Alexandra Road.

Although the event is free, donations to support Tin Shed Theatre's community work, including the building of their community theatre company, The Public Theatre, which will see people from across Newport, from all walks of life, accessing elements of creativity.

You can donate, with cash or card, at the Box Office in the Waterloo Hotel before or after the performance.

Guests may also be interested in supporting the crowdfunding to secure the future of Newport Transporter Bridge. You can donate here: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/newporttransporterbridge1

For any more information go to: www.tinshedtheatrecompany.com