Bridport’s very own Tessa Bide is coming to Bridport Arts Centre with her first devised, one-woman show for children, The Tap Dancing Mermaid.

Come along and hear The Moon’s story about a tippety-top tap dancer who he has been watching at night.

Marina Skippett creeps out at night to tap dance on the boardwalk to the sounds of the sea.

She can’t tap dance at home any more since her evil, tractor-sized Aunty banned it. But then, one magical night, Marina meets a mysterious watery boy swimming alone and her life is never the same again. Tessa grew up in Bridport and has performed in the town’s flagship venue several times since the age of 11.

Her passion for dance grew after joining the Les Bois Dance School at the age of 10 and, later, Bridport Youth Dance where her tap dancing skills were honed by teacher Nikki Northover.

After studying drama and performing arts at the Sir John Colfox School and the Thomas Hardye School, Tessa went on to work with Stuff and Nonsense Theatre Company, based at The Lyric Theatre.

Branded a ‘truly amazing, one-woman power house’, Tessa is returning to her home town with her first, devised solo production.

Tessa said: “I am so excited to be performing at Bridport Arts Centre with my very own show. I have been coming to the inspiring venue ever since ‘Summer Thing 1996’ and to be performing my own one-woman show is a huge achievement.

“I am also looking forward to showing Bridport’s creative young people that they can accomplish anything, without necessarily having to train at an expensive drama school or university. The production showcases other Bridport talents such as Matt Huxley, another former Colfox student who composed the show’s original and beautiful score.” The show takes place at 11am and 2pm on Wednesday, October 2 and Friday 4 and at 11am on Saturday 5.