A drama based on how a man was inspired to create West Hartlepool during a stormy night in 1861 is to be premiered this week.

Ralph Ward Jackson dreamt up the idea to build the town on a February night when a huge storm battered the North-East coastline.

Hartlepool's Museum of Hartlepool and Cleveland Theatre Company are collaborating for the first time on the drama, called The Great Storm.

Mark Simmons, of Renaissance North-East, said: "This is the first in a series of dramas specially commissioned for museums in the Tees Valley, and we're absolutely delighted that the Museum of Hartlepool is hosting it.

"The performances are a wonderful opportunity for people to explore a dramatic chapter in our history in a really unusual and exciting way."

The museum itself will be the setting for the performances, and audiences will be invited to follow the unfolding events through different areas of the museum, where actors and artefacts will bring history to life.

The performances are free and take place on Wednesday, at 1.30pm, and Thursday, at 11am and 1.30pm.

The Great Storm will be the first in a series of events being held by Hartlepool's Arts and Museums Service as part of the national SeaBritain celebrations, which are being held to mark Britain's seafaring heritage.

Published: 14/02/2005