Dunedin writer-director James Tregonning (24) said people generally bolted when the words Christian and theatre were even mentioned together.
''The reaction is usually 'ugh they're going to try and convert you' - they assume it's cookie-cutter parables.
''On the other hand, there's the brand which is the real kind of militant anti-religious stuff, which is not a very nuanced look at what the culture is actually like.''
Christian, his six-character directorial debut, draws from his experience as a Christian and asks if there is any room for faith in a world filled with ''creationists, homophobes, idiots, control freaks, militant atheists, street evangelists, power, sex and Harry Potter''.
The play looks at a young girl named Penny, played by Claire Macindoe (23), as she ''tries to figure out what she wants her faith to be'', Tregonning said.
''When you grow up as a Christian you just do what your parents do, and there's a point where you start to develop your own faith and ask what it looks like. Do I even want to be a Christian? Do I want to be a Buddhist or something?''
He went through a few churches and often found an unpleasant atmosphere, he said.
''There is the division between the actual beliefs and the culture. When a lot of people think of the religion they will think of being accosted on the street, or door knockers.
''One of the most interesting things ... is everyone has a story about Christianity, and most of them are awful.''
Some branches of the church had much to apologise for, such as past and present homophobia.
''With such a high suicide rate among gay people, there's no way that didn't have an impact,'' he said.
Macindoe said the main character in Christian was in the church, but ''not very happy''.
''She's not OK with what's being propagated, but she also feels like she has to go to church.''
The show was not about God as such, she said.
''It's about the people that make that community.''
She personally was put off by many aspects of the culture.
''Growing up you hear these stories of other young people going to churches and their experiences and it's just so off-putting.
''I remember as a 5-year-old getting told dinosaurs never existed - so yeah, that was my introduction into Christianity.''
Christian will play at The Kitchen Table at 6pm and 8pm from tomorrow until Thursday.
