Men's free tickets for Vagina Monologues

The London Arts Theatre is encouraging men to get in touch with their feminine side by offering free admission to Monday night's performances of The Vagina Monologues.

So far the show has attracted more female than male spectators because the play is "regarded by men as a women-only show", said the theatre's spokeswoman.

"We want to encourage more men to come to the show with this promotion," she added.

The hit play, by Eve Ensler, has starred a variety of well-known actresses including Cate Blanchett and Kate Winslet.

Originally produced in New York for a brief OBIE Award-winning run in 1996, the show has since travelled the globe.

Ensler put the play together following 200 diverse interviews with a wide range of women around the world.

The resulting play has been described by critics as "powerful, humorous and brave".

Sophie Dahl has appeared in the stage show

Comprising of a cast of three, the actresses change every four weeks.

Previous productions in London have included models Jerry Hall and Sophie Dahl, comediennes Jenny Eclair and Meera Syal and actresses Maureen Lipman and Miriam Margolyes.

'Embarrassing'

Despite playing to predominately female audiences, some of the men who have seen the show have commented on their surprise enjoyment.

On seeing a performance of the Monologues at Boston's Wilbur Theatre, one male member of the audience recently told the Boston Globe newspaper: "It was embarrassing, but in a good way."

Another said: "I expected to feel like a fly on the wall that maybe shouldn't be there."

But he added, "I got inside, and it turned out to be one of the most fun, fascinating, multifaceted things I've seen in a long time."