Enormous 18-metre-long whale to 'wash up' in Newark this month - and this is why

An 18-metre-long inflatable whale is coming to Nottinghamshire later this month to highlight the impact that plastic has on the environment. 

The huge whale will be ‘washed ashore’ in Newark Market Place on Saturday, April 27, with families invited inside to watch an interactive theatre production by Circo Rum Ba Ba. 

The production will tell the story of sea creatures battling to survive in an ocean full of rubbish. 

Tickets for the six 30-minute performances inside the whale were snapped up within 12 hours, but members of the public are still being encouraged to visit the town centre and have their photo taken in-front of the massive inflatable.

The Plastic Ocean Show aligns with Newark and Sherwood District Council’s ‘Motion for the Ocean’ declaration, which highlights the urgent need to recognise that our ocean is in crisis and that local government has an essential role to play in recovering the health of our ocean.

Councillor Emma Oldham, Portfolio Holder for Biodiversity and Environmental Services at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said:“No matter where we reside in the UK, we're all intimately connected to the ocean, always within 70 miles of its shores. 

“Our lives are intricately woven with the ocean's influence, from the air we breathe to the food we consume, and the crucial role it plays in regulating our climate.

“This show will teach families and young children about the importance of keeping our rivers and oceans clean and plastic free with the use of amazing puppets and music. 

“This is like no other show across the UK and we’re really lucky to have this in our town for the day.

“It is wonderful to bring the nuts and bolts of our Motion for the Ocean to life in such a compelling way.”