Punk is all about energy. But there is more to Energy than punk. You'd guess, from the deep and meaningful discussions about what it is that makes the definitive punk song, that, back in the 1980s, writer Gary Mitchell and director Joe Devlin had been in garage bands themselves, albeit on opposing sides of the city - Mitchell in loyalist Rathcoole, Devlin in republican Andersonstown.

Here, in this crackling new play, imaginatively commissioned by The Playhouse to run in tandem with music and writing workshops, the members of fledgling band Energy have come together in the name of music and in defiance of the dark political clouds that are gathering around them. But it is difficult to ignore either the very real threats levelled by loyalist paramilitaries against their manager Bob (the sound Vincent Higgins), who refuses to pay protection money, or the actions of republican hunger strikers, whose deaths are now filling the news headlines and fuelling hatred in the enemy camp.

While sticking close to his familiar structural format of black comedy spiralling into violence, Mitchell speaks the language and generates the music that will bring young people into the theatre, possibly for the first time in their lives. Under Devlin's urgent direction, there are great, snarling performances by Maria Connolly as lead singer Alison (daughter of a local unionist councillor); Alan McKee as Glen, a menacingly amiable UDA recruiting officer, whose beady eye falls on Marc O'Shea's manic and none-too-bright bass player Pete (a role created specially for him); Chris Corrigan as songwriting genius Dave, and outstanding newcomer Andrew Moore as happy-go-lucky drummer Humper.

But the major obstacle to a resolution of Pete's difficult choice between guitar and gun lies in the character of Catholic band member Michael, a limp, two-dimensional figure, played unenthusiastically by Matt McArdle and offering no attempt at the counterpoint necessary to off-set O'Shea's kneejerk, sectarian rantings.

Plays until October 16th (booking at 0801504 268027)