First impressions make all the difference in the arts. A comedian is unlikely to start a gig by stuttering his way through a ‘knock-knock’ joke. You probably won’t catch ballet dancers dragging their heels across the stage throughout the prologue to Swan Lake, and you certainly won’t see Sir Ian McKellen opening a play by picking his nose as he steps out of the wings (or at least we hope not!).

Stoke Newington International Airport play on this fact in their Live Art Speed Date sessions. Swinging from body art to monologue in short and deeply interactive pieces, the company collect some of the most engaging performance artists, and feed them one at a time to a somewhat overwhelmed and bewildered audience.

This weekend, SNIA will be bringing their theatrical tapas to Newport’s Empty Shops Project as they claim National Theatre Wales’ shop in the city centre. Shop windows, booths coated in red and white fabric reminiscent of Punch and Judy shows and low stages will all play venue to these artistic one-on-ones.

This Live Art Speed Date kicks off National Theatre Wales’ presence in Newport. Throughout the next month, the former location of The Officers Club will become home to open rehearsals for The Dark Philosophers, the venue for the interactive Assembly next month as well as a hub for ‘Newportonians’ to come and get involved with Wales’ English-speaking national company.

So, comb your hair and pull out your favourite shirt to do your bit in sculpting that all-important first impression. Forget lingering eye contact, haute cuisine and awkward silence, though. This is dynamic performance contained in the time it takes to boil an egg.

Fri 22-Sat 23 Oct, 21:00. FREE ENTRY. Info: http://community.nationaltheatrewales.org/profiles/blogs/we-present-live-art-speed-date