force behind the changes remains the same. Step forward Patricia Pogson, who is well known for her energy and drive in local theatrical circles.

In fact, theatre is her passion -- so much so that on Friday she leaves her regular job with PRIDE to focus on bringing her latest dream to fruition.

Specifically, Miss Pogson believes that Bermuda needs to develop its own, recognisable culture, and one way to do that is through the creation of a purely local theatre company producing original plays and poetry written and acted solely by Bermudians.

To that end, the former Black Box Performance Workshops has been renamed "THE Company,'' with Tyrone Smith as president, and herself as vice-president and artistic director.

Others board members are Alvina Brangman, secretary-treasurer; Laurel Burns, assistant secretary-treasurer; Richard and Leighsa Augustus, Company assistants. Initial plans call for the creation of written material, following which the artistic net will be widened.

"Once we have gotten the dramas or poetry written, hopefully we will start to get some original music composed by Bermudians,'' Miss Pogson says. "I believe that is the beginning of developing our Bermudian culture.'' THE Company has both a senior and junior arm -- the latter of which aims to provide Bermudian youngsters with a vehicle through which to express and develop their talents, as well as fostering in them the desire to attend theatrical productions in general. Typically, Miss Pogson has lost no time in getting THE Company's first production underway, thanks to a late-night brainstorming session with her good friend Danielle Riviere.

"She came up with the idea of doing this play, `Shis Got Issues,' which looks at things like shoes. Most women have fetishes about shoes. Sometimes they squeeze their feet into the wrong size, and end up with corns, so we poke fun at the shoe issue.'' Other everyday topics include Bermudian women who travel to New York for two days and come back "tripping'' -- with full-blown American accents, mega weave hair-dos and acrylic nails -- as well as bills and finance, work, children, men, time and more. The full programme, which takes place at City Hall from May 2 through 5, will also address serious issues such as the confusion between sex and love, and teen concerns.

Nishanthi Bailey, who is head girl at Berkeley Institute and a Rotary exchange student, will play the lead role in `Fairytales', which is about young girls who grow up believing in the myth of a Prince Charming who will ride them off into the sunset on a white horse to live a Ken and Barbie lifestyle, when the reality is a broken heart simply because they did not know the difference between sex and love.

In this piece, Tyrone Smith will play the role of the godfather, who explains that the episode was just a date.

Tamesha Hodgson, a budding poet and Berkeley Institute student who was recently discovered by Miss Pogson, has written three poems whose topics are: not becoming a teenage parent, understanding curfews, and telling the truth.

"She has developed these characters which I think for a 17-year-old has given her a good start to a career as a performer,'' Miss Pogson says.

`Being in Love' deals with adults who rush into physical relationships which end painfully because they failed to address the mental aspects as well.

"It will be an evening of poetry done in theatre style, so we are calling it `performance poetry','' Miss Pogson says. "Percussionist Calvin Worrell will play instruments to accent some of the pieces, and a painting by Manuel Palacio, which includes three verses from the Bible, will hang as a conversation piece while the actors talk about spirituality and religion.'' Choreography is being created by junior members of THE Company: 14-year-old Shoa Bean and 16-year-old Seldon Woolridge, and will be danced by the teenage dance company Exclusive.

"I think it is important to keep finding young people who can keep the art perpetuated,'' Miss Pogson says. "I believe they are very good, but they need an opportunity to perform in front of an audience to help them grow.

"Beyond all that I believe that, as performers, they should be disciplined, and I don't mean just in attending classes and rehearsals, but by showing respect. We can help to boost their self-esteem, but it is respect for others and self-respect that I would like to see displayed, and that is what I hope, more than anything, that the young people will get out of being involved with THE Company.'' The artistic director also hopes that seasoned entertainers will offer to give workshops for young people in their respective fields.

"You have to get the arts growing -- it's like watering plants,'' she says.

Meanwhile, youngsters of all ages are welcome to join the junior company, and should contact Miss Pogson.

Tickets for the May 2-5 performances (patrons $50, others $20) are on sale daily at City Hall box office from 12 noon to 2 p.m., or through Miss Pogson 295-5943 or Mr. Smith 295-6933. Performances begin at 8 p.m.

Proceeds will go toward financing a junior company performance this summer, as well as teen workshops.