ASK anyone to name a fictitious space ship and it would almost certainly be a toss-up between the Starship Enterprise and the Millennium Falcon for top spot.

Why someone from a galaxy far, far away would name vessel after an earthly bird of prey and a time measurement that would mean nothing to them has never been fully considered - nor has the birthplace of Han Solo’s vessel - until now.

It turns out that the iconic ‘Falcon was built, not in orbit around the desert planet of Tatooine, but in a warehouse on the West Wales coast.

Now a play heading for the Borough Theatre, Abergavenny, ‘Lightspeed from Pembroke Dock’, tells the story of the coastal town’s claim to fame and its impact on local Star Wars fan, Sam whose step father is working on the construction.

In 1979, long before blue-screen and CGI imagery made all things possible on the big screen, the full size spaceship had to be built by local craftsmen in Pembrokeshire.

The play explores what happens when Hollywood’s best-loved spaceship lands on your doorstep and is billed as ‘A story of hope, courage, and how to be a family when it seems the universe is against you.’

Written by Mark Williams and brought to the stage by the Dirty Protest Theatre Company,m Lightspeed from Pembroke Dock stars Welsh actor, Kieron Self, familiar to television audiences as hapless dentist Roger Bailey in the TV sitcom, My Family.

With so many small screen and radio credits to his name, Kieron explains what it is about live theatre that still makes him approach each performance with anticipation.

‘In theatre, it’s a different show every night and you get the reward - hopefully, of an immediate audience reaction. It’s a spontaneity that an actor never tires of.’

Cardiff-based Kieron’s involvement with Dirty Protest extends to both writing and performing. In the company’s tenth year of operations he has been instrumental in bringing a series of short plays to fruitfulness with impromptu performances throughout Wales.

‘I will be returning to writing after this run of thirteen performances. We finish up in Milford Haven on Star Wars Day - May 4th and a series of special celebrations are planned.

Led by Artistic Director Catherine Paskell, the full cast for the play will be Keiron Self, Jack Hammett, Sian Davies and Dick Bradnum. Lightspeed from Pembroke Dock comes to the Borough Theatre on Wednesday, April 25th at 7.30pm.