A Kent theatre’s first in-house production has opened, starring a TV actress and an up-and-coming movie actor.

With adult themes and a language warning, Beached tells the story of 18-year-old Arty who, at 63 stone, is morbidly obese and the world’s fattest teenager.

All this is set to change when a reality TV crew moves in to ruthlessly document Arty’s supposed transformation from bedridden walrus to trousered sophisticate. But with the cameras rolling, something totally unexpected happens – Arty falls in love.

The play stars actress Robin Weaver, who is best known for playing Pamela Cooper in The Inbetweeners, and James Dryden as Arty, who appears in upcoming film Mr Turner.

It is the first play created by Canterbury’s Marlowe Theatre and part-funded by the Marlowe Theatre Development Trust.

James, who plays Arty, said: "Arty wants to break free. We’ve gone for more of a metaphorical view - I’m sat on a big mound of things that I might have consumed, like takeaways, and I’m built into this mound which is Arty washed-up, beached."

See it now at the Marlowe Studio until Saturday, November 1, with performances at 8pm and 2pm on the Saturday. Tickets cost £12. Visit www.marlowetheatre.com or call 01227 787787.