By bringing the reality of Bermuda's street life into the more decorous setting of the City Hall Theatre, Dwayne Saunders is hoping that he can help bring together a society which he sees as increasingly divided.

"The play's not designed to change people's minds, but to jog them,'' its author explains. "I'm trying to explain what the `street mentality' is to those who have never actually experienced it. Bermuda is a beautiful place -- one of the most unique countries in the world. We are lucky to be here, in spite of the everyday problems that everybody experiences.'' Mr. Saunders elaborates: "Whatever differences we have as a community, we need to find our similarities rather than our differences! But,'' he emphasises, "we have to know what those differences are. You can't have a test in school, obtain a mark of six out of 10 -- and then ignore the things you got wrong! We've got to look at the problems because I, for one, don't want to think of the next generation coming along and trying to blow it all up!'' Based on a series of poems, his play, which opens tomorrow night, is divided into a series of scenes, each one of which ends with a dance sequence choreographed by his long-time girlfriend, choreographer Suzette Harvey.

"I started writing about six years ago -- mainly for stress management. If something happened to me, I would write it down. Suzette was going through my poetry one day and, the next thing I knew, she was all motivated! She said, `I think we can make a show out of this!'' Using six or seven of those pieces, he has been writing and rehearsing the rest of the show since last December. Using a capella music, with songs at the end of each segment, Miss Harvey has also choreographed a dance sequence to complement each scene.

Dancing to the sounds of such favourites as Bob Marley, Desire and Marvin Gaye, is her company, United Production Dancers. "We already had some boys who dance on a regular basis with the company and we asked them to try and find some more, and they did, so we have a well balanced cast.'' Highlighting the violence and drug culture on Bermuda's `Reality Street' in the first half of the show, Mr. Saunders then explores some of the problems underlying that violence and -- hopefully -- ways in which they can be solved.

"I believe that theatre has power to change things. This is where you can air opinions without being censored. I have talked a lot with the youth of this country, so I think that in my play, it is the young people who are speaking out. There's not a lot of opportunity to express things freely -- even amongst people who should have the closest relationships.'' Commenting that he is especially concerned with the breakdown of family relationships, "between parent/child, the generation gap'', Mr. Saunders says that so far as he can see, that gap is widening at an alarming rate. He cites the strong influence of his own mother and aunts in his family as an illustration: "Things seem to have got worse since I was young. It seems to be this generation, now, of young people that we can't seem to reach.'' His approach, he says, is to try and show how kids really behave when their parents are not watching: "Maybe if they can understand the way they think, they might have more influence.'' Noting that there are "a few'' racial issues raised in his play, Mr. Saunders emphasises, however, that this is not the main thrust. He believes the problems are far more complex than that. "People have worked hard for equal opportunities and lots of kids are going away to college -- and then find the jobs aren't there when they get back. Education is no longer seen as a way out. They're going to sell drugs because they don't see that their job is going to get them a better life.'' In his view, there is a perception among the young that no one cares about them. He is sharply critical of the fact that Bermuda has invested a great deal of money in the new prison, rather than education. "If we had spent money on better schools, we wouldn't have these criminals. For a lot of kids, it's too late by the time they get to college age. But nobody seems to be at the helm. If you look around you, you will see that we have many, many beautiful and smart young people here. But these children are going to explode if they think the country doesn't care about them. I want to head that off -- or at least try! Do we really want,'' he asks, "a situation where the good, which is the majority, waiting for the bad to attack?'' It is Mr. Saunders' belief that a sense of negativity is building up, "And when you concentrate on negativity, you get negativity. Turn off the TV -- sit down and talk to your mother, or your brother, or someone! If anything bad happens to you that day, you can at least say to yourself that you've had a good talk with your mother...'' Readily admitting that he believes in stricter discipline in the community, Mr. Saunders says he got his discipline from his mother, "and I'm grateful for it.'' He also admits he was "a pain in the neck'' during his school years at Warwick Secondary. "My four sisters went to Berkeley, and my brother and I went to Warwick. I didn't want to learn. I went to school for fun, and for sports.'' Find out about `Reality Street' at City Hall From Page 29 Today, he leads a life that seems to be crammed with action -- both of the cerebral and physical kind.

Fishing, cricket, golf, soccer and tennis (he is ranked number seven in Bermuda's `B' division) are all high on his list of hobbies.

He also loves writing and playing the bongo drums for Suzette's dance classes.

"I also like sculpture. I made one of Suzette called The Dancer, which I took from the emblem of the National Dance Theatre of Bermuda.'' Paying tribute to the way in which she inspired him to try and develop his writing, Mr. Saunders says, "I had no intention of writing a play. I did it just because I love to write. But look at how, with Suzette's help, things have changed for me.

"She has natural talent, but she works very, very hard to develop that talent. Her whole life is hard work -- she never stops!'' `Reality Street' will be performed at City Hall on May 18, 19, 20 with a Sunday matinee on May 21.

Tickets, priced at $20, are available from the City Hall box office, between 12 noon and 2 p.m.