GENDER neutral toilets are just one of the ways a community arts centre will be exploring transgender issues as it launches a new show.

The Witham, in Barnard Castle, is launching the first Pay What You Decide event with the show TESTOSTERONE on Friday, May 4, at 8pm.

The Witham has collaborated with comic transgender theatre writer and director Kit Redstone and physical theatre company Rhum and Clay.

Mr Redstone transitioned from female to male in his early thirties and has experienced adult life on both sides of the gender fence.

The show is being brought to the market town as part of REACH, a strategic touring project funded by Arts Council England, designed to increase the amount and quality of contemporary theatre touring into the North-East.

In order to help audiences access theatre, The Witham are not selling tickets for the event but asking people to reserve a place and then pay whatever they feel the experience is worth following the theatre piece. The venue is also making the toilets gender neutral for the evening.

Witham director, Katy Taylor, said: "With this refreshingly honest and irreverent physical theatre comedy by critically acclaimed company Rhum and Clay and theatre writer and director Kit Redstone, TESTOSTERONE explores what is masculinity and what it means to become a man.

We are delighted to be able to give people the opportunity to see this very funny, daring brilliant play here in Barnard Castle. It is exciting to part of the current debates about gender identity and body image."

Testosterone connects with the current UK exclusive exhibition at The Bowes Museum - British artist Jonathan Yeo’s SKIN DEEP runs until June 17, exploring more conceptual themes in his Surgery Series, drawing on his long-held fascination with physiognomy and notions of human identity.

For more information call 01833-631107 or visit The Witham in from 10am to 4pm, Tuesday to Saturday or thewitham.org.uk