FLYING boats played a brief but dramatic part in Southampton's history during the 20th century, with passengers enjoying a standard of service comparable to that of the ocean liners of the era.

Thanks to an Awards for All Lottery grant, the Gantry Youth theatre will bring the city's flying boat stories to life in a production which explores the danger, romance, courage, humour and technological achievement which accompanied the development of flight from water.

The first commercial passenger service began with a flight from Southampton to Le Havre in 1919, although it must have taken nerves of steel to fly in one of these early machines.

During the 1920s and 30s there was fierce competition to win the Schneider Trophy race with British competitors winning the trophy outright following three successive wins in an aeroplane designed by RJ Mitchell, the designer of the Spitfire.

Gantry's performance takes place in a unique and perfectly appropriate venue - Solent Sky Museum (formerly the Hall of Aviation) in Albert Road South, Southampton.

"It didn't look like a theatre" says writer and director Matt Fletcher "It was full of aeroplanes and there was no room to put the performers or the audience, but I knew immediately that this was where we should do the show."

As well as the play, audiences can enjoy a chance to look around the aeroplane exhibits with doors opening at 7pm and curtain-up at 7.30pm.

Solent Sky Museum, Albert Road South tonight until Sunday, March 20 at 7pm. Box office: 023 8042 2099.