A team of talented young thespians from Berkeley Institute will travel to England to perform at a Shakespeare festival in the New Year.

The 14 Senior Four (S4) students ? all studying drama as part of their Bermuda School Certificate ? will perform a half-hour version of the Taming of the Shrew in front of thousands of other youngsters at the Shakespeare Schools Festival in London. Berkeley Institute will be the only non-British school performing at the event from February 5 to 9.

It is the first time the public senior school has sent children abroad to appear at an arts festival. Next year, Berkeley plans to stage its own version of the festival on the Island - and will invite all Bermuda?s other schools to take part.

Drama teacher Josephine Kattan said yesterday that the trip was a wonderful opportunity for the seven boys and seven girls ? all aged 16 or 17 ? to display their knowledge and love of Shakespeare in an international setting.

?The students did Macbeth last year for their GCSE and a lot of them got As,? she said. ?They chose this year to continue doing drama in S4.

?The whole point of us going to the festival in London is so the students can see how a festival is put together.

?Although some of them will not be here next year, others will be and the idea is for us to go into the community and get children to love Shakespeare.?

She added: ?Our students love Shakespeare and they want to open the eyes of young people to be more receptive.?

She said the youngsters hoped to visit Shakespeare?s Globe Theatre while in London and possibly have a day in Stratford-upon-Avon, where he was born.

Zia Jennings, 17, from Pembroke, will play the lead character of Kate, the shrew of the title.

She said: ?I think it?s really exciting that we are going to London, especially since we are the only international school.

?I?ve never been before and it?s a great opportunity. Learning Shakespeare is fun and it?s different because his plays are all different.

?They vary from tragedy to triumph. You learn a lot from his plays. But sometimes the language is tongue twisting, especially the way Bermudians talk!?

Jakila Maybury, 17, from Warwick, who plays the priest and is in the chorus, said: ?I?m so excited to go. I hope it?s going to be a good experience.

?I know we are going to be the highlights because we are the only country not from Britain.

?I love Shakespeare. At first ? I won?t lie ? it was boring, but we got to study and improvise and now I think it?s great. I?m used to the language.?

The other youngsters involved are: Blayne Baker, Michiko Campbell, Ian Coke, Aleisha James, Zico Mello, Rochelle Minors, Patrick Perret, Jonathan Shabazz, Samantha Smith-Joseph, Kenisha Pough, Kwame Wolff and Joann Nichols.

The school is looking for sponsorship to help pay for the trip.

Anyone who can help should call principal Michelle Simmons or teacher Joann Adams on 292-4752.