GlassBox Theatre may have only opened its doors to the paying public at the start of this year, but already it is hosting its first Olivier-award winning production.

The theatre is inside MidKent College in Medway Road, Gillingham - though has its own entrance and box office - and is aiming to create a commercial venture from the college’s professional theatre space.

After starting out with a range of one night plays and short runs, it will stage Rotterdam, a play which has had a successful run in New York, from Thursday, May 9 to Saturday, May 11.

Theatre manager Nicola Alison, who trained in stage management at RADA, said: “We are trying to offer a space that offers something slightly different. It is part of the college, but at 5pm you sense a change.”

“It is baby steps; we are just working with what we have now and building on that. But the feedback we have been getting has been really good. People are really impressed with what we have done.”

The 332-seat auditorium is fully accessible. Longer runs and stand-up comedy nights are hoped for in the future.

THE PLAY

Rotterdam is by acclaimed playwright Jon Brittain, and is a bittersweet comedy about gender, sexuality and being a long way from home.

It’s New Year in Rotterdam, and Alice has finally plucked up the courage to email her parents and tell them she’s gay.

But before she can hit send, her girlfriend Fiona reveals that he has always identified as male and now wants to start living as a man named Adrian. Now, as Adrian confronts the reality of his transition, Alice faces a question she never thought she’d ask... does this mean she’s straight?

Director Donnacadh O’Briain said: “It’s a privilege to be able to share this funny, moving and beautiful story with audiences around the whole country.”

While writing the show, Brittain researched and consulted widely including talking to trans people and their partners. To find out more go to glassboxtheatre.com

DETAILS

Rotterdam is at the GlassBox Theatre from Thursday, May 9 to Saturday, May 11. To book tickets go to ticketsource.co.uk/midkent, call 01634 383388.

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