SET entirely in a small town park outside London, You Don’t Kiss centres on three gay black men, each longing for an intimate encounter.

Justin (Josh Enright) is cruising for casual sex, Ian (Michael Ellis) is a disillusioned escort and Hartley (Adrian Kabba) just wants to be kissed.

It is an intimate story performed in an intimate venue but while writer Troy Andrew Fairclough succeeds in deftly exploring the challenges of finding gay love and companionship in an urban backwater, he misses the opportunity to really sink his teeth into the prejudices many African and Caribbean gay men face from within their own communities.

It is a subject which is rarely explored and although Fairclough makes a point of writing his characters as black, they could just as well be from any ethnic background.

Nevertheless, You Don’t Kiss is a thought provoking and fearless urban fairytale which features strong and engaging performances from all its young leads, even if the dialogue at times feels a tad unconvincing.

Making his professional debut, Enright gives a breathlessy energetic and frequently funny performance, while Kabba plays the part of a naive and exploited man with learning difficulties with warmth and sensitivity.

Ellis also gives a subtle and understated performance as Ian, effectively portraying the character's fragility.

You Don't Kiss may not be ground-breaking but is still a rewarding and satisfying slice of fringe theatre.

You Don’t Kiss. Brockley Jack Theatre, Brockley Road, Lewisham. Until July 31. Call 0844 847 2454.