Mirroring current events in Northern Ireland, the play Sticks And Stones looks set to become one of the talking points of the summer.

The play, by award-winning writer Lance Nielsen, traces the lives of three families from 1972 to the present day as they try to build a life against the backdrop of the troubles.

When Joanne Senyu-Semura marries British soldier Lawrence Ford, he cannot understand the prejudice he faces for having an African wife, while she does not understand why he is shot by a faceless enemy on the streets of Derry.

In Derry, Michael Doyle cannot understand why his brother Jordan wants to join the IRA, as their father does not want either of them involved in the violence.

Playing Joanne is Merton- based actress Suzanne Davis, a face familiar from the streets she appears in the current Metropolitan Police Hate Crime Campaign.

"When my character's husband is killed by an IRA sniper, I eventually trace the man who killed my husband and find out his side of the story," she says.

"He joined the IRA to get revenge for the death of his brother, but he didn't really want to kill my husband he was under pressure to prove himself."

This is played against the backdrop of domestic disharmony, with the father-in-law less than happy that his son has married a black girl.

Sticks And Stones was first staged two years ago and was originally written as a film.

"There are about 74 scenes with each one lasting two to three minutes, so it's a very fast moving piece with a cast of 20," Suzanne says.

"It has all the elements of watching a film, but it is on stage."

Suzanne played the same role two years ago, but this time she says it makes much more sense.

"The play itself has not changed, but my understanding of it has. Over the past two years I've matured as an actress and I can bring this to the role.

"I'm a lot closer to knowing what it feels like to lose someone you're in love with."

Away from the play, which Suzanne says does have some funny moments despite the subject, she can be seen on posters all over South London.

"It was a couple of years ago when I was approached to take part in the Met Police's anti- racism campaign," she says.

"It was at the time of the Lawrence Inquiry and so they really had to be seen to be doing something about race crime.

"I got to meet Neville Lawrence (Stephen's father) and he's a lovely man. At the time, there was a big launch for the campaign and he was very camera-shy.

"He kept pushing me to the front and I was trying to get him to take some of the limelight, but he was very nervous. I told him I thought he was used to it by then!"

Along with the rest of the cast of Sticks And Stones, Suzanne is not getting paid unless the play makes a profit.

"Lance has worked so hard on this production and we all felt it was a story which needed telling.

"Nearly all the money which has gone into the play has come out of Lance's pocket, money he has earned as a writer and winning awards."

While it doesn't debate the Northern Ireland political issues, Sticks And Stones instead examines the cause and effects the events have on people's lives.

It shows the journey of a child who becomes a killer in a war he does not understand, but more importantly it shows the courage of those who choose not to fight.

Sticks And Stones opens at the Bridewell Theatre on Wednesday, July 11. For bookings call 020 7936 3456.

Gareth Foreman