THE Priory is treating its first text addicts.

Now, the power of technology, and its ability to control us and shape our lives, comes to the fore in Two Tracks And Text Me, Sol B River's new world premiere at the West Yorkshire Playhouse.

The Leeds playwright opens his cautionary tale with a text being sent to the wrong phone: the catalyst for a chain of events that lead to a mobile becoming a young girl's lifeline.

"Technology really is imposing on our lives and making us vulnerable," says Sol. "The point is how we make it a part of our lives or not a part of our lives; how we allow it to take over our lives - but as soon as technology takes over, that is dangerous."

First tested in a mini-version at the Playhouse in 2000, Two Tracks And Text Me, is now fully fledged and, ironically, the production is hi-tech. Sol himself has played his part in embracing technology.

"When we did it here in 2000 we were testing the characters and the technology, and now the play is a massive expansion of what it was. We're using film sequences in the show, and I've directed those sequences myself, filming in Leeds at locations quite near the theatre," he says.

The autumn brochure's snapshot of what lies in store in Two Tracks is cryptic yet enticing. It states that life for Beeves and his mates revolves around the Playstation, chill-out tunes, hip hop, drinking and talking back to their sassy girlfriends.

Then a text to a DJ mate links them to Louise, young, vulnerable and anxious to escape, but can she trust them to help?

Add warnings of strong language and adult themes, the poster photo of a ghostly teen and its text message Need You, and the younger theatre audience should be hooked.

"But I've been much more concerned with mature audiences than the young audiences," says Sol. "At the launch evening for the autumn season, I tried to sell it to them by saying that as long as it had a good narrative they would enjoy it - and it does have a good narrative."

When new technology, modern production values and old writing principles combine, the result is Two Tracks And Text Me. Can director Joe Williams pull off the cult hit of the Playhouse autumn? Find out from tonight.

Two Tracks And Text Me, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds, tonight until November 1.

Box office: 0113 213 7700.

Updated: 12:50 Friday, October 10, 2003