Swindon's newest theatre company is run by actors who positively thrive on performing controversial or taboo breaking dramas.

It is no surprise then that the Shoebox Theatre Company has chosen the disturbing play, The Wonderful World of Dissocia, as its debut performance.

The drama is based around the fantasy world of Dissocia conjured up by the troubled heroine of the piece, Lisa, played by Katie Sullivan. Katie was attending beginners acting classes at Shoebox which is based in Theatre Square, Swindon, when they began auditions.

Katie said: “I am so pleased to have been given the opportunity to play Lisa, as she is such a fascinating character, her journey through Dissocia is very much like Alice falling down the rabbit hole. The inhabitants of the world she finds herself in are a strange mix of funny, friendly and brutal, which makes for a very interesting journey!”

Tackling the subject of dissociative identity disorder, the play, written by Anthony Neilson, is in two parts, the first is the fantasy trip to find Lisa's lost hour in the land of Dissocia, under the rule of King Black Dog, and the second is the stark reality and confusion of those trying to help sufferers.

Shoebox Theatre was set up last August with the aim of providing a platform for Swindon's non professional actors to tackle new works and contemporary scripts.

Founder and director of the company Luke Marquez, said: "Although we are mainly working with performers with some experience, for a few this will be their first time performing on stage in front of an audience, which is equally as exciting as it is terrifying for them! We have been working really hard over the last few months to prepare everyone and it is great to see the cast coming together to bring this colourful story to life.”

The Wonderful World of Dissocia was first produced for the 2004 Edinburgh International Festival and is both comical and moving.

The performance is suitable for those aged 16 or over and will be performed at the Shoebox Theatre on Thursday, December 15 and Friday December 16 at 7.30pm and on Saturday, December 17 at 2pm and 7.30pm.

Tickets cost £10 and are available from www.shoeboxtheatre.org.uk/whatson - Flicky Harrison