What happens when a group of teenage friends realise something dreadful has happened? That one of their number is dead…because of the actions of members of their friendship group? They have to accept that Adam was being bullied….but no one actually wanted him dead. How does group loyalty, mutual support, fear and confusion affect the group members in different ways?

This is the theme, and the challenge, of DNA, as the friends come together to deal with an appalling situation. The Performing Arts students of the IW College set the play on a black stage, bare save for a black stage block, throwing the emphasis on the performances.

We first meet Jan (Ella King-Smith) and Mark (Ruby Ashton), whose short, staccato conversation mirrors the confusion, denial and disconnect they feel – at this stage we, the audience, are equally confused – who or what are they talking about? These two characters act as narrators through the show, returning time and again to update us on what is happening.

We are then thrown into a powerhouse performance by Grace Thomson as Leah. Her response to the situation is to drown her feelings and fill the void through talk, and Grace inhabits this character so well. Finn Parsons has if anything a more difficult character but portrays Ed just as well. A foil to Leah, Ed says almost literally nothing – and maintaining character with so little dialogue is challenging. Not only does Finn meet this challenge, when Ed finally does speak, he is the only one with a clear plan of action – and Finn manages this transition from onlooker to leader really well. Unfortunately, his plan results in another unforeseen dilemma for the group – they unintentionally frame an innocent man for Adam’s death – and this is where the friendships are tested to the limit and start to unravel in places.

Another strong performance is given by Bethany Parker who doubles the role of John-Tate, another leader, though a more aggressive one, with the later role of Adam, who in another twist, turns up alive, provoking even more confusion and tension. Props must be given to Bethany for convincingly portraying both the dominant, controlling John-Tate and the mentally broken Adam.

Dillon Hill ably embodies the nervous energy of the ambitious Danny, fixated on the implications of the situation for his future as a dentist and university prospects, while Elliot Vince’s Lou is similarly nervy, but less focused. Martha Cornish-Boyle plays the outwardly confident and dismissive Cathy, apparently unfazed and unremorseful about what has happened – but Martha’s performance shows us the vulnerable young girl inside. Archie Brown portrays Richie so that we see his place in the group well – he is able to dominate weaker characters like Lou, but could not aspire to either the dominance of John-Tate or the thoughtful leadership of Ed. Lilly Brett-Pierce plays Bella – seen as the weakest of the group and bullied into going to the police claiming to have been approached by a person the group have invented, she refuses to go back once they realise an innocent man has been arrested for a non-existent crime. Lilly portrays Bella’s weakness yet stubbornness very well.

The short scenes, narration and monologues mirror the disintegration of the friendship group but provide a challenge to audience and performer – thankfully the students have risen to meet this challenge and have put together a thought-provoking piece of theatre.