A huge old glass house in Stanmer Park is the inspiration for Small Wonder's latest dance piece.

Formerly used to grow tropical plants and exotic palms, The Palm House was once a visitor attraction but for many years lay derelict.

Now the building has been reglazed and restored to its former glory for Small Wonder's site specific performance. Co-director Charlie Morrissey, who has been choreographing, directing, performing and teaching dance for 15 years, says: "The idea is that The Palm House is like a civilised version of nature just as we are a civilised version of our primitive selves.

"The performance explores our relationship with the more volatile aspects of the natural world and with our wilder selves.

"A Palm House is somewhere a gardener can select and develop a species, maintain levels of moisture and temperature and nurture everything grown within a carefully laid plan. But the soil and air have a will of their own.

"Nature is unpredictable and the gardener finds himself in a constant struggle, battling with bugs and fighting to keep weeds down. It's a metaphor for mankind's often futile efforts to tame and control the environment on a larger scale."

You can expect to see dancers dressed in suits and high heels, scrabbling around in the foliage.

And you can also expect to find yourself taken for a walk on the wild side.

The Palm House, Charlie explains, is as much of a sensory experience for the audience as it is a spectacle. It brings the outside inside. The senses will be awakened as Small Wonder lead you on an atmospheric, metaphorical journey through the seasons and the natural world.

"As you go inside the building it really smells of the earth," says Charlie. "There's loads of greenery and the whole space is covered in a couple of feet of bark chippings. Rain, wind, fog and heat are simulated to bring the show to life. At one point the entire building gets surrounded by flames.

"The performance unfolds through a series of episodes which reflect both the destructive, savage aspect of nature and its peacefulness.

"It's like a piece of music, with really strong imagery all around you which effects you on an emotional level. It's good fun and enlivening too."

Small Wonder is a South Eastbased company formed in 2003. Its directors, Paul Harrington and Charlie Morrissey, have worked together for 13 years creating acclaimed mid and large-scale performance events.

For this project they will collaborate with designer Graeme Gilmour. Performers will include Jenny Tattershall and Lyndsey Butcher.

Starts 8pm, tickets cost £9-£14. Call 01273 685861.