The plays are being brought to life through Westmount’s Gleams Theater, in what they call Secluded Spots. The company is coordinated by producer Ira Sokolova and her husband, Constantin Sokolov, who directs all the productions that come through the door.

The married duo came to Montreal from Bulgaria, where they were artists, 15 years ago. They created the Gleams Theater Company in 2004 and bring true originality to every play they produce. According to Ira, and the theater company’s mission statement, they aim to stage, “newly written, seldom or non-produced dramatic works for Montreal Audiences in unconventional styles and spaces.”

Mike Bartlett, playwright and former writer-in-residence at London’s Royal Court Theater, feels that the Gleam’s Theater has broken down barriers and crossed boundaries in the production of their plays. He visited Montreal for the first time to attend the North American premier of My Child and said that he wouldn’t let just anybody produce one of his plays. He feels that Gleams interpreted My Child in a tasteful yet absolutely unique way

“I think they’re great and I think they’re taking huge risks,” said Bartlett about the Gleams Theater. “To do a Woody Allen play next to this play is something that’s challenging and new, and they don’t just want to do the same old thing over again.”

Gleams Theater puts on about three to four productions per season. Producer Ira Sokolova said that the plays aren’t rushed in rehearsal. They aim to produce play of quality from the writing and acting to the director’s unique interpretation.

Both these plays look to do expose real human emotion in ways that haven’t necessarily been done before.

• 'Secluded Spots', consisting of Woody Allen's 'Riverside Drive' and Mike Bartlett's 'My Child' is produced by Gleams Theatre and runs through May 10. Visit www.mainlinetheatre.ca for more information regarding specifics dates and times of the shows.