THE man who brought performances of Shakespeare's and to the island as part of the Bermuda Festival is to judge the works of local playwrights later this month.

Peter Meineck, founder and producing artistic director of the Aquila Theatre Company, will return to the island as a celebrity judge in the third annual 'Famous for Fifteen Minutes' playwriting festival and subsequently name its overall winner.

The festival is held each year at the Bermuda Musical & Dramatic Society's Daylesford Theatre. In making the announcement, a BMDS spokesman said Mr. Meineck's special talents made him the perfect judge for the event.

"His enthusiasm for researching the plays that he produces, and his interpretation of translations, makes Peter an ideal celebrity to bring added value to 'Famous for Fifteen Minutes' and continue the gravitas afforded to this much awaited annual event."

Added festival co-producer, Adrienne Hintz: "Having Peter judge our playwrights is a coup for BMDS and Bermuda. His name and the reputation of the Aquila Theatre Company are a combination that BMDS can be proud to be associated."

British-born Mr. Meineck, who studied the ancient world at London University, founded the Aquila Theatre Company in 1991. It has since earned an international reputation as one of the foremost producers of touring classical theatre and is renowned for presenting fresh and inventive productions of classical drama designed to breathe new life into the texts.

A former Royal Marine, Mr. Meineck trained as a lighting designer and has worked at leading theatres in London and in the US. He is currently clinical assistant professor in Classics and Ancient Studies at New York University

In his role as producing artistic director of the Company, Mr. Meineck presented and to considerable critical acclaim at this year's Bermuda Festival. "In addition to his unbridled reputation as the author of many books and articles on ancient studies, Peter has translated numerous Greek plays for the stage for Aquila and other production companies," the BMDS spokesperson added. "Bermuda will best remember Peter for his co-creation and production of several Festival plays including the two above and also the impressive, and Oscar Wilde's ."

Mr. Meineck will judge each play before arriving in Bermuda and will present the winner with the Golden Inkwell and a cash prize, at the gala night performance and presentation on March 20.

This year's winning entries are from Carol Birch, Debbie Pharoah (last year's winner), Jean Hannant, Henry Godfrey, Andra Simons and Kelvin Hastings-Smith. Previous judges have been Canadian playwright Norm Foster and Manchester Royal Exchange Artistic Director Jake Murray .

This year's festival runs from March 17 through 20. Performances begin at 8 p.m. except for a matin?e performance on Saturday, March 20 which begins at 4 p.m.

Tickets are $20 ? except for those to the gala performance on March 20, which will be $50 ? and are available from the box office at Daylesford Theatre on March 11, 12, 15 and 16 between 5.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m.

Between March 17 and 19, tickets will be available between 5.30 p.m. and 8.30 p.m. and on March 20, between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. and 7. p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.bmds.bm after March 11, or by phone during box office hours at 292-0848.