If you haven't yet been to Banksy's famous theme park Dismaland then I suggest you have a rethink.

I was lucky enough to go along this morning to see what all the fuss was about, and to be honest, the experience was definitely like nothing I'd ever witnessed before.

When I arrived, the fake security guards gave me an airport style once over with an arty looking scanner, shouting at me to stop laughing and to stand on one leg and hop to the door.

Despite being there on my own, I couldn't help but laugh, making the guard even more cross. I know it's all part of the show, but did I really need to be scolded the minute I got there? Apparently so.

Once inside Dismaland, it was like being on another planet. Or just a really bizarre derelict circus.

A giant burnt out castle in the style of Cinderella's princess home stared back at me. A ferris wheel slowly turned to the beat of eerie, sinister music. A guard wearing a bright pink 'dismal' jacket was sitting slumped moodily on a deck chair, ignoring passers-by and cursing quietly to himself.

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Wondering what Id let myself in for, I wandered over to a tent labelled 'pizza'. It was here that I had the privilege to meet one of the many artists involved with the project, Bill Barminksi.

Bill created the airport style security items, such as the walkie talkies, the police hats, a confiscated packet of crisps and a large gun.

His work is all made out of cardboard and is life-sized, meaning visitors can pick it up and interract with it.

"When the organisers got in touch with me and asked me to be involved, I had no idea what it was for," Bill told me.

"I arrived from LA five days before Dismaland began and couldn't believe it- this was never what I expected.

"I'd been told it was a small group project which of course, it isn't. I didn't know Banksy was involved."

Pushing my luck, I decided to ask if he knew who Banksy was.

"I have no idea," Bill said.

"I haven't met him and none of the other artists I've met know who he is either.

"The Somerset cider is great though."

I sensed he was trying to change the subject.

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Being at the exhibition by myself, I did fancy a bit of company on my way round and asked Bill if he fancied showing me what was what. He was more than happy to, which was lovely.

As we made our way round, a strange child voice came over the tannoy, saying "if you behave nicely, the communists wouldn't exist."

Well that doesn't make sense- how is that relevent? But then none of this makes sense. It just one gigantic mess of artisitic brilliance. And I could feel myself starting to love it.

I was shown a brand new exhibition that had just been put in today, which was a big sculpture of a snake eating Mickey Mouse. It was different, granted, but it was amazing.

How do these artists come up with such ideas?

A torched looking caravan span upside down not far away, and a merry go round creaked, with odd looking statues sitting on various horses.

Walking into a small circus tent, tea cups with creepy fingers sticking out of them were laid nicely on the table, surrounded with Damien Hirst unicorn pieces and a white rabbit that actually moved like the real thing.

A large painting of David Cameron holding a drink looked down over me as I absorbed the strange slogan paintings covered with deep messages.

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Interesting... very interesting.

I sat down at a damp picnic table, having previously got caught up in a freak rain shower, and was joined by Darren Fairchild, one of the only four people who knew about Banksy's Dismaland.

"I was approached by Banksy's representatives several months back," said Darren, seafront and events manager for North Somerset Council.

"They gave me a proposal about the project and I spoke to three others at the council for permission as it is such a controversial topic and the Tropicana itself is also a controversial building.

"We got the site into a usable state but still keeping with the derelict theme and we brought all the exhibits into the Tropicana in the middle of the night undercover.

"The castle and the ferris wheel came last however, because we didn't want what was happening to get out.

"We'd previously told the press a boring story that it was the set of a Hollywood film and not one person questioned it because why would you?

"The construction took about three months and it was so difficult not to tell anyone what we were doing.

"In the last few weeks we had to tell some people such as the emergency services, but it was very hard to keep it a secret."

I asked Darren if he knew who Banksy was. He said no.

I tried again... was Banksy here today? Had he been here at all?

"No comment" interrupted a PR woman.

Take from that what you will, but I think the man himself is walking around close by somewhere. He's probably dressed as a miserable security guard having a right laugh at everyone.

"Weston has really benefitted from Dismaland," added Darren

"We've been inundated with offers from people wanting the Tropicana site afterwards. Some are ridiculous but there have been some great ones like a cultural arts centre.

"The future is very positive."

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I walked around the site one last time and conveniently, it started to rain again. It was as though Banksy himself was controlling the weather. I did feel quite dismal standing around soaking wet, but it was obvious that every person there was just fascinated by the brilliant art.

I had honestly never seen anything like it and despite the ridiculous queues and amount of people inside, I could see why families had travelled from all over to see it.

I found the strange messages most interesting, as well as the more light-hearted exhibits like the selfie hole photo board. Usually you'd put just your head in, but this one had a hole to put your arm out and take a selfie.

A true mick-take of the seafront.

People who appreciate art will love Dismaland. People who want a fun day out will also love Dismaland, and people like me, who were just being nosey, will be well and truly impressed with the whole thing.

Disappointingly, I won't be the journalist who unveils Banksy's true identity in an unexpected twist during an innocent press jolly, but I will be the journalist who says that Dismaland is great, even in the rain.

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