WRITER Madani Younis did not "get into theatre" until he was 17 or 18, feeling distanced from a medium that spoke neither to him nor for him.

Free Falling addresses that teenage audience, and Younis, now 26, and Leeds company Red Ladder have gone to the heart of the subject by working with more than 80 West Yorkshire youngsters.

From their stories, Younis, director Wendy Harris, workshops coordinator Anna Gregory and the cast have devised a one-hour piece of multi-media theatre of the streets.

Inspired by the urban sport of free-running, Younis's tale of teenage friendship, dares, disputes and break-ups is set in a disused skate park, soon to be transformed into yet more designer flats.

As if to break down the fourth-wall barrier of them and us, the multi-racial cast use their own names.

Nicola Bentley is the bragging group leader, stating her territory in the opening rap as she introduces her friends, who enter to the accompaniment of video visuals by Jeremy Nicholls.

Duggal Ram and Marcia Banaska are skirting young love's waters, but Marcia is increasingly drawn to finding her father. Luke Broughton is the loner, secretly writing poetry in the manner of The Streets' Mike Skinner.

They move around Leslie Travers' park design and climbing wall in free-running moves choreographed by Wayne Stables; they play tig, until Nicola plays a more dangerous game.

"Fragile, handle with care, do not drop", the poster says in reference to the act of free-falling, but it applies wholly to these teen lives.

Younis's script, Ivan Stott's beats, the poems and visuals all have winning impact, but ironically the performers, Broughton apart, do not seem real, erratic Scouse accents and all. Bentley's wild over-acting needs urgent curtailing.

Free Falling, Red Ladder Theatre Company, The Studio, York Theatre Royal, July 13. Box office: 01904 623568.

Updated: 10:30 Wednesday, July 13, 2005