THE parents of two Army recruits who died at the controversial Deepcut barracks have collaborated on a play about their children's violent deaths.

Private Geoff Gray, from Seaham, east Durham, and Private James Collinson, both 17, were among four soldiers found with gunshot wounds at the barracks.

Their deaths prompted allegations of bullying and abuse at Deepcut.

Geoff Dead: Disco For Sale, which is likely to be highly critical of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Government responses to the deaths, chronicles the families' six-year struggle for answers and campaign for a public inquiry.

Pte Gray's father, also called Geoff, said the play would highlight the difficulties the families faced in taking on the authorities.

He said: "I am hoping it pricks the public conscience again. It shows just how badly we have been treated as families of soldiers.

"We have had to fight against the MoD, we have had to fight against the Army and, to a certain extent, the Government."

He said the play would dramatise the frustration, anger and even black humour in his relationship with his wife, Diane, after their son's death.

Diane Gray said: "Seven years on and we are still battling to keep the story alive and to fight for justice for the four trainees who lost their lives at Deepcut."

The play's author, Fiona Evans, said the boys' parents were determined that the piece should pay tribute to their sons.

She said of the two families: "They have retained humour, dignity and a fighting spirit despite, at times, being treated with such flippant disregard by the British establishment."

The play's title comes from Mr Gray's dry response to learning that the first five words of the death notice in his local paper would be free.

Thinking of his son's love of music he suggested: "Geoff dead: Disco for Sale."

Pte Collinson, from Perth, was found with a single gunshot wound upwards through his chin, in March 2002.

Six months earlier, Pte Gray was found with two gunshot wounds to the head while on guard duty at the barracks.

Their deaths followed those of Pte Sean Benton, 20, from Hastings, in June 1995, and Cheryl James, 18, from Llangollen, north Wales, in November 1995.

* Geoff Dead: Disco For Sale will go on stage at the Live Theatre in Newcastle, from October 9 to November 8.