A NEWPORT community and leisure centre will host one of the biggest names in Welsh theatre later this month.

Clwyd Theatre Cymru, the famous North Wales professional theatre company, will perform their latest production at the Pill Millennium Centre.

The group will perform an adaptation of the hit film Brassed Off, in Newport, between September 29 and October 2.

The company have moved the setting of the play from the mining communities of Yorkshire to Wales.

It will be the first stop-off on the group's latest tour, which will star two Newport-born actors, John Cording and Daniel Lewellyn-Williams.

Mr Lewellyn-Williams plays Barry, a miner who is resigned to losing his job but still fights for his principles, while Mr Cording plays Dafydd, a choir conductor who lives for music.

A number of local children have been recruited to take part. A spokeswoman for Clwyd Theatre Cymru said Brassed Off was "a heartwarming story of pride and passion which tours into the hearts of South Wales communities".

She added: "We were last in Pill two years ago and enjoy performing there."

The show will take place in a 200-seater mobile theatre which boasts £500,000 worth of technical equipment funded by a grant from the National Assembly and sponsorship from Lloyds TSB and Arts & Business Cymru.

Brassed Off also features BAFTA Cymru best actress Maria Pride and Gwyn Vaughan Jones, winner of the 2002 Daily Post best actor award. Music comes from the Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen Band, and the group will also be visiting Caerphilly in October.