THE PARENTS of missing Hampshire teenager Daniel Nolan are backing a play which will reconstruct the mystery disappearance of their son.

Pauline and Greg Nolan say the production, called Dan Nolan - Missing, brings something good out of the tragic situation.

Rehearsals will start tomorrow at his school. The play is being staged by members of the Oaklands Youth theatre.

The popular 15-year-old King Edward V1 schoolboy vanished ten months ago - on New Year's Day - near his home at Hamble while he was on a late-night fishing trip with pals.

Award-winning playwright Mark Wheeller, who teaches at Oaklands Community School, has put together the story of the teenager's tragic disappearance.

His research involved many hours of interviews with Dan's family, friends and the detective in charge of the ongoing investigation.

He said: "It tells the story through their words to get as close to the truth as memory will allow."

The play will get its premiere at the end of the month at the youth theatre based at the Lordshill school campus.

It is hoped to take the hour-long production into schools and ultimately to the Edinburgh Fringe 2003.

Mrs Nolan told the Daily Echo: "The play has got our full support. It is something positive out of what is an awful situation."

She said the play would get the story of Dan's disappearance to a wider audience and it would also help to get across the message of how vulnerable young people can be when they are walking alone.