A new play that sees the audience travel the Falls and Shankill roads in the back of a black opens next week.

The eagerly anticipated Two Roads West, by former IRA hunger striker Laurence McKeown, is part of the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival.

It tells the story of passenger Rosie and driver Bill.

Rosie left the Falls in 1968, the year before the beginning of the Troubles.

On her return to the city she takes a sightseeing journey in the back of Shankill Road man Bill’s cab.

Belfast has undergone a major transformation in the 40 years since Rosie left.

As Bill points out the changes, both physical and mental, Rosie reflects on past loves and what might have been had she stayed at home.

Two Roads West is unique in that an audience of only four gets to see each performance.

They sit in the back of a black taxi with Rosie, and listen to her conversation with Bill.

The journey, which takes over an hour, starts off in Castle Street before moving up the Falls Road, crossing Northumberland Street on to the Shankill and travelling back to its starting point.

The fact that people from both communities can relate to black taxi journeys inspired Laurence to pen Two Roads West.

He said: “Black taxis are associated with both the Falls and Shankill, so the audience should be able to relate to them. It’s a play about reflection – you learn about Rosie’s past, where she’s at in life, and what happened before. She remembers her old boyfriend Phil, going to the dancehalls, and listening to Van Morrison.

“While Rosie looks back, Bill talks about the present. How Belfast developed into what it is today. 

“In that sense the city and the surroundings become a third actor because Bill constantly refers to them and the audience is forced to engage with its surroundings.”

Lawrence admits that the prospect of using public roads as a stage is daunting.

“You can encounter problems – the taxi could get stuck behind a funeral, there could be an accident, even a bomb scare. Fingers crossed it will run smoothly,” he said.

Two Roads West, in association with Kabosh theatre company, runs from May 7-10. There are four shows daily at 11.30am, 1.30pm, 4pm and 6pm.

Tickets costing £10 and £8.50 are available from the Belfast Welcome Centre on 02890 246609 or online from www.cqaf.com