HAVING learned her trade at Bridport’s Lyric Theatre, west Dorset performer Tessa Bide returns next week with her debut one-woman children’s show.

Tessa formed her own production company after choosing to train on the job with Stuff and Nonsense Theatre Company, which is based at the Lyric, rather than studying at theatre school.

Her decision paid off and she has already performed The Tap-Dancing Mermaid to sell-out houses in Bristol, where she has made her home.

So come along to the show and hear The Moon’s story about a tippety-toe tap dancer whom 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 anymore since her evil, tractor-sized aunty banned it. But then, one magical night, Marina meets a mysterious water boy swimming alone and her life is never the same again.

It is a delightful show aimed at three year olds and slightly older children, with music by Matt Huxley, who also grew up in Bridport with his parents Ros Fry and former Bridport Arts Centre manager Chris Huxley.

Tessa is still pinching herself that she has managed to get it completed and on stage.

She said: “I started developing it as a story and this year I thought that even though I didn't have the money I would try and make it into a show because if I didn't try then I would never know.

“I started writing it and enlisted the help of children in Bridport by going into schools and reading bits of it to them. A lot of the idea for the show came from them – this all happened last year when the Olympics were going on, so the children thought it would be nice if the mermaid’s tail was decorated with gold, silver and bronze scales, which I thought was lovely.”

Tessa grew up in Bridport and has been performing in the town since she was 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 and The Thomas Hardye schools, Tessa worked with Stuff and Nonsense Theatre Company at The Lyric Theatre where she led a successful campaign that raised more than £11,000 for essential repairs to the building.

She also performed a nationwide tour of Niki McCretton’s one-woman show Muttnik – First Dog in Space to multiple sell-out audiences up and down the country.

“It was a great experience touring Muttnik because I learned what touring a one-woman show is really like,” she said. “It is a brilliant show but I couldn't take all the praise because I hadn't written it, which is why 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.”

iThe Tap-Dancing Mermaid features brilliant live music, stunning puppets and tap dance that will make you want to stick 50ps to your shoes and join in.

You can see it at Bridport Arts Centre on Friday, October 4 at 11am and 2pm and at 11am on Saturday, October 5.

Tickets and full details are available from the arts centre in South Street or by calling the box office on 01308 424204.