Two of his friends were killed and another was seriously hurt in a horrific motorway smash on their way back from a music festival.

It later emerged the group had taken cannabis, speed and LSD at the event, as well as alcohol.

The tragedy devastated the families and friends of the young people involved.

Now, six years on, writer Matt Kane has penned a play based on the events in the hope of finding a way to save lives.

And what he has produced carries such a powerful message, Matt and his theatre company have been invited to perform in front of an audience of dignitaries in London with a view to eventually producing the play for millions of students across the country.

Pills, Thrills @ Automobiles is based on the accident, which happened in July 1997.

As well as drawing on his own experience of losing his friends, Matt, 36, of Adelaide Crescent, Hove, interviewed many of those involved in the tragedy, including families, friends and doctors who attended the scene of the accident.

Matt, company and artistic director of the Brighton-based Ape Theatre Company, the Theatre in Education Company, said: "It's been difficult writing it.

"I wanted to write it at the time because it was about drugs but the powers-that-be had a different attitude then. Now it's more realistic. Back in 1997 the subject of drugs was taboo and the message was Just Say No."

Matt, who was a regular on the rave scene at the time, says some young people do use recreational drugs and often get into vehicles without realising the consequences.

He said: "Latest Government figures show drug-drive deaths contribute to 25 per cent of all deaths on the roads. The RAC independent analysis came up with 50 per cent. Clearly this has become a massive problem."

Ape is using animation and film as a backdrop for the play.

Matt added: "The club, festival and dance music culture is a perfect medium in which to interest young audiences, enabling us to hit them hard with the consequences of irresponsible use of drugs."

Matt and the theatre company will be performing the play at the Guild Hall in London on Wednesday, in front 150 dignitaries, including the Mayor of the City of London, heads of county councils across the country and MPs.

Ape has already had successful nationwide productions in secondary schools of other plays, tackling issues such as drinking and driving with Too Much Punch For Judy, the company's production of Legal Weapon, which dealt with speeding, and Johnny Be Good, which raised the issues of safe sex, teenage pregnancies, HIV and Aids.