Us Bristolians are pretty obsessed with Clifton Suspension Bridge and rightly so. It's a magnificent structure and one of Britain's top tourist attractions. It also has a fascinating story particularly around the trials and tribulations that iconic engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel faced in getting it built.

Bristol's beloved bridge recently celebrated its 150th birthday with some spectacular fireworks. 

But the party isn't over as Walking the Chains, a theatre production telling the story of Brunel's masterpiece, has opened at Temple Meads station, another of Isambard's creations.

We were invited to the opening night and boy, what a show it is!

A purpose built theatre has been constructed in The Passenger Shed, part of Brunel's original station. There's no stage and the action takes place in between two blocks of seating. This means the audience gets very up close and personal to the actors. We were sat in the front row and could have reach out and touch them if we had wanted to. We didn't though!

The story switches between Brunel's efforts in the 19th century to get the bridge built and a group of tourists on a tour of the structure in modern day Bristol.

The scenery is minimal but it still feels like a lavish West End musical thanks to how the cast use the available props and costumes as well as the truly amazing lighting.

But the highlights for us were the wonderful circus performers from Bristol's Circomedia. They hang high from the ceiling, often with no harnesses, which takes your breath away and the re-creation of the  famous story of Sarah Ann Healey, who survived a 1885 suicide attempt from the bridge due to an updraft of air underneath has skirt, is truly beautiful.

The actor playing Brunel himself, with his Martin Freeman looks, also puts in a memorable performance and the main actors are well supported by members of Bristol's Show of Strength theatre company which is famous for staging theatre shows in high street shops.

If I had to give one criticism it would be the sound. The Passenger Shed is a huge space which meant there were moments when it was hard to hear the dialogue but that didn't take away from the wonderful stories including the woman who managed to be the first to cross the bridge by breaking through the barriers on the opening day and the London woman who proposed to her boyfriend in the  centre of the structure.

Bristolians in particular will love Walking the Chains but it will also appeal to those from outside the city due to the awe-inspiring circus action, tear provoking emotion and the spectacular ending which we won't give away!

Walking the Chains is at The Passenger Shed in Bristol until 25 January.

Words: Dan_Martin

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(Photos by Farrows Creative)