THINK before you act - that's the message being hammered home to teenagers as part of a new touring production.

Why Wait? Why Not? is a hard-hitting play that aims to encourage safer sex.

The show, by the Outloud Productions Theatre Company, is currently visiting secondary schools across the county.

The drama gives out important messages about teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases and also shows the consequences of having casual, unprotected sex - in terrifying detail.

Based in the bedroom of a young man called Dick, it reveals how his colourful past could cause problems for his girlfriend, who has been unwittingly infected with chlamydia - a disease which often has no signs or symptoms but can have a devastating effect on fertility.

In the UK, the number of people with chlamydia has risen steadily since the mid-1990s and it is now the most commonly diagnosed sexually transmitted infection.

Sexually active women under the age of 25 have a one in ten chance of getting chlamydia and men aged between 20 and 30 are most at risk of becoming infected.

The theatre company was called in to raise awareness about unprotected sex after last year's successful shows in Southend schools.

The current tour will be on the road in Essex until Friday.

Chris Clark, Southend's teenage pregnancy co-ordinator, said: "We are really pleased to be hosting this production again.

"The response we had last time was fantastic.

"We hope the drama will once again get important messages out to young people about taking care of their sexual health and making them aware of the importance of safer sex and using condoms."

Some of the first people to watch this year's production were Year 9 pupils from Thorpe Bay School.

Having seen the new drama, students said it had captured their imagination and they had learnt a lot about sexually transmitted diseases.

Rhiana Lee Fincher, 13, from Thorpe Bay, said: "The play was funny at times and told me you should never have unprotected sex."

And Hayley Draw, 14, also from Thorpe Bay, added: "It was really informative. I learnt a lot about chlamydia and what it can do to you if you don't get it treated."

The drama, commissioned by South East Primary Care Trust and Southend Council, aims to show messages about sex and relationships can be delivered creatively, without losing any of the meaning along the way.

It also advises against rushing into sexual relationships and how to access local sexual health services, such as the primary care trust's ruClear? chlamydia screening programme for young people in Southend.

Simon Ford, health promotion specialist for South East Essex Primary Care Trust, said: "The play really gets young people thinking about relationships and how the choices they make now can impact on their future sexual health.

"The performance talks to young people about sexual health in a way they can relate to and hopefully enables them to find out more about their local sexual health services."

For more information about chlamydia or where to get screened in Essex, visit www.ruclear.nhs.uk For further information on issues of sexual wellbeing, log on to www.ruthinking.co.uk