V isitors to the Bristol Harbour Festival should take care – a man made of iron the size of a double-decker bus is on the rampage.

Ted Hughes's classic children's story, The Iron Man, clanks, crunches and munches its way through Bristol's Harbourside this weekend in a new street-art adaptation of this beautiful tale of understanding and tolerance.

Once upon a time, but not too long ago, the unexpected arrival of the Iron Man cast a shadow of fear across the land. He made vast holes in roads and spent his time chomping on tractors and snacking on miles of barbed wire fences.

People struggled to trap this giant foe and stop his insatiable hunger for metal. But, when an enormous dragon from outer space threatened to annihilate our planet, it was the Iron Man who valiantly came to our rescue.

Award-winning Graeae Theatre Company re-create this modern-day fable complete with heart and humour – and a humungous man made of iron.

Graeae is a force for change in world-class theatre – breaking down barriers, challenging preconceptions and boldly placing disabled artists centre stage.

This is the first time Graeae has delved into the world of puppetry, with a deaf and disabled ensemble of performers operating the outlandish puppets, creating a bold, giant-sized narrative in the air.

The Iron Man is made of wheelchair components and will be operated by a wheelchair user, creating a spectacular puppetry experience from ground level rising up into the sky.

Mixing puppeteering, signing, storytelling and live music, children and adults alike will be captivated by this unique, award-winning show.

NATALIE HALE

The Iron Man appears at the Bristol Harbour Festival at The Mud Dock on Saturday, July 30, and Sunday, July 31, at 3pm and 5.30pm. For more information, visit www.bristolharbourfestival. co.uk