THE second play in this year's Northern Exposure season of new writing seems horribly familiar. This is hardly surprising as the events depicted are plucked from today's headlines.

Gang warfare, gun culture, doorstep shootings, a distraught teenage mother, a disillusioned brother... David Hermanstein's play isn't going to win any comedy awards.

Karena Johnson's harrowing production jumps around in time and place with the bloodied figure of murdered Delroy (Marcus Onilude) haunting the action.

Hermanstein is not so much concerned with the shooting as the repercussions on those left behind in a culture where such happenings are all increasingly common.

There's Akiya Henry's young Dionne, driven almost insane by the death of her boyfriend.

Her younger brother Remi (Jumayne Hunter) is left with the responsibility of looking after her baby with his friend Jermaine (Anwar Lynch).

An absent mother and imprisoned father (Trevor Dwyer-Lynch) means they're left on their own to cope with an impossible situation.

Safe tackles the issues head-on without any concessions to making the experience comfortable for the audience. It's a brave piece of writing, accentuated by the stark staging, which means it's not particularly easy viewing.

Safe continues in repertoire until June 8. For tickets, phone 0113-213-7700.

Steve Pratt