The NHS in Hammersmith and Fulham is stumping up more than £131,000 to fund tickets for all 15 and 16-year-olds in the borough to see a play about teen sex at The Lyric theatre in King Street.
More than 1,000 students are expected to visit the theatre on March 2 and join in a live debate on sexual health after the performance of 'Spring Awakening' - Read our review
NHS Hammersmith and Fulham hopes to reduce teenage pregnancy rates by 50 per cent by 2010 and screen 17 per cent of 16-24 year olds for chlamydia by March this year.
This follows the Lyric's creative learning department leading a workshop with 20 young west Londoners to become sex education mentors to their younger peers.
The youngsters worked with actors from the play to make a film based on sexual issues the play raises like teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
The theatre has now been shortlisted to win an award from sexual health charity Brook for the best sexual health project of the year.
The sex education film is called Sex, Lies and DVDs and 4000 copies will be available for all young people who come into the theatre.
NHS Hammersmith and Fulham director of public health Dagmar Zeuner, said: "This is a really innovative way to promote messages about sexual health to young people, and we hope it will be a positive learning experience for all those involved.
"We look forward to evaluating the work to see how we can develop this learning model for the future.
"We're thrilled the project has been shortlisted for an award, and are pleased to have been involved in making the educational programme happen."
James Blackman, co-Director of Creative Learning, said: "The Lyric Hammersmith is fully committed to encouraging theatre-going amongst local young people. Furthermore we are always looking at new and innovative ways of adding-value to our productions and working in partnership with schools and colleges.
"Spring Awakening is not 'a sex play'. It tells the story of a group of teenagers on the journey towards adulthood and highlights some important issues in relation to sex and relationships. We are delighted to be working in partnership with our local Primary Care Trust to highlight the themes and issues in a sensitive and appropriate manner.
"If any of your readers would like further information about the project they can email me at creativelearning@lyric.co.uk or call me on 020 8741 6863."
Spring Awakening plays until March 14. Call the box office on 0871 22 117 22 or visit www.lyric.co.uk . Tickets start at £10.
Sex Lies and DVDs is available online at: www.springawakeningundressed.com
