THE SMALLEST THEATRE GOING

Ruby velvet drapes, scarlet flock wallpaper, plush crimson seats and tiny flickering gas lamps adorn the auditorium of Ireland's newest venue, which seats just two in the balcony and two in the stalls. Five minute theatre has arrived, with hundreds of shows playing to full houses across the country packed with shoppers, strollers and anyone who happens to be around.

In a radical new approach to making theatre accessible and developing new audiences, Big Telly Theatre Company has turned a trailer into a theatre which shows a trailer from its forthcoming theatre show called Fish. As Fish is based on magic, illusion and comedy, audiences in the smallest theatre going are treated to some spectacular close up magic and effects that feature in the show.

"The response has been absolutely amazing. The space itself has such a lovely atmosphere, and it works exactly like a proper theatre, the lights go down, the curtains open, and the action begins. I think the reason why audiences love it so much is because it feels so incredibly intimate, so immediate, and so LIVE. Many of the people we've met have never been to a theatre before, and they all come out saying they'd love to go. I think it's crucial that we as artists take responsibility for the quality of the audience experience, and that's why this is the perfect way to introduce people to Fish - there's plenty there to tickle artistic taste buds, but most important of all - we want people to have a really good time." Zoë Seaton, Artistic Director, Big Telly Theatre Company.

Fish the performance also features a short film with a unique twist. The company has filmed in each of the tour venues that the show visits in October/November so local people in the audience for the show could see their own faces smiling back at them.

Big Telly Theatre Company is a professional theatre company formed in 1987 and based in Portstewart, Northern Ireland. The company designs and delivers theatre productions, interactive workshop programmes and community creativity projects, which it mainly tours throughout Northern and Southern Ireland. It concentrates on the visual potential of theatre through fusion with other art forms such as dance, music, circus, magic and film to create a unique sense of spectacle. Big Telly's work is driven by a determination to offer audiences entertainment that surprises, stimulates and ignites the imagination.