A PLAY for young people that explores the issues of drugs and driving has been piloted at Simon Langton Girls' School at Canterbury.

A rehearsed reading of Road Kill, by Michael Wicherek, was given to Year 12 theatre studies students as well as representatives from KCC's drugs advisory service and Kent Police.

The 50-minute monologue is aimed at educating young people about the effects of drugs on drivers.

Read by actor Joseph Mawle, star of the Guinness advert set on an Irish hurling field, the play follows the ramblings of an 18-year-old who, it emerges, has been involved in a tragic road accident.

After the reading there was a chance for the drama students to discuss the effect and power of the message.

Mr Wicherek is also the artistic director of the London-based Box Clever theatre company, a registered charity that provides a range of theatre for young people.

He explained: "We have been working with staff at KCC and the police to come up with an informative and educational tool to promote the danger of drugs and driving.

"We have come up with Road Kill, which today we are trialing to the students. If the reaction is positive we will tour it around schools across the country."

The drama students appeared unanimous in their approval of the play. Mel Garnett, 16, said: "It was just one person speaking the whole time but you don't notice that because it is such a powerful play.

"The message makes you aware of the dangers of smoking cannabis while driving, even if you only smoke it passively."

Rosetta Baker, 17, added: "The character describes through flashbacks these horrendous, horrible injuries caused in the accident, and as he does so his language changes from quite colloquial to poetic. It's so intelligently written."

Rebecca Wolfe, 17, said: "It absolutely makes you stop and think. It puts forward that this is what could happen to you. But as well as being an educational work it was a good piece of theatre in its own right."

Sophie Baker-Cross, 16, said: "It is so powerful through its subtlety and so emotional I nearly cried. I think it should definitely be used in schools much better than a lecture."

Anyone wishing to find out more about other plays and school tours organised by Box Clever can contact them on 020 7357 0550 or visit www.boxclevertheatre.com