HADRIAN'S Wall has become Britain's latest and largest theatre as it becomes the setting and venue for a brand new play by northern playwright Peter Mortimer.

With more than 80 miles of performances between Bowness on Solway and Segedunum taking place until August 28, the new play had its world premiere in Bowness on Solway, in cumbria, and is now travels along the Wall to Segedunum in Tyne and Wear.

Specially commissioned by the Hadrian's Wall Tourism Partnership to be performed on and along Hadrian's Wall and involving local people, Peter's new Play is entitled Off the Wall.

The play is a satire focusing on the plans of a ruthless entrepreneur, Lionel Loot, who plans to buy the Roman Wall and turn it into the world's longest theme park. His plan sets in place a whole series of unexpected events in a fast-paced theatrical adventure. The play features live music, the Queen, a 20 minute spell in Roman Britain and one scene in Latin.

Performed by a band of strolling players, the troubadours of Cloud Nine Theatre Company will carry their performance all the way along the new 84-mile long Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail. The cast will perform the play each night of their travels in venues that are on the line of The wall, several of which have been transformed into theatres for the first time.

In preparation for the Play, the cast have not only been rehearsing their parts, but have also been engaged in training to bring them to a full state of fitness to walk the entire distance in just over a week, covering ten miles or so a day before giving their performances.

It will take the players nine days to cross the country, with a performance each night at 7.30pm. Each venue includes a theatrical backdrop produced and painted by local people who have been participating in arts workshops in preparation for the performances.