THROUGH the performing arts and entertainment, Ah Who Productions director Mitchell Trott is determined to get his message across to the community in a positive light, particularly Bermuda's youth.

Mr. Trott's latest production, Three Hundred and Sixty Degrees, Where is Zion?, premieres tomorrow night at the Ruth Seaton James Centre for the Performing Arts, the exact site where the muti-talented Bermudian launched his career in the arts as an enthusiastic teenager. Talk about coming full circle.

"As you now know there's a lot of ignorance going on in our island. There's no cultural base and no knowledge of self nor higher learning. None of that exists and that's why I think we presently have this confusion in Bermuda," he said, referring to recent outbreaks of violence within the community.

"We have a responsibility to be truthful and righteous to our people and so this is what this show is all about . . . who we really are.

"We want to share some of our experiences in life with the general public because it shouldn't be concealed. And we intend to emphasise this through the arts."

Over the years, Mr.Trott has risen to local stardom both as a flamboyant tap dancer in his own right, and as a former sweeper at Premier Division football club Boulevard.

"I learned how to tap dance from Suzette Harvey. She told me the best things in life are free. And she taught me for free and once told me (Brazilian football star) Pele did ballet," he recalled with a chuckle.

"I was a fifth-year student at Devonshire Academy and I had expressed an interest in learning how to tap dance before she even came to the school. None of the teachers there taught tap and they wanted to put me in dance class with all of these girls. I also got a lot of practice at college which enabled me to do what I'm presently doing now."

Mr. Trott, who graduated from Bermuda College in 1994, said Ms Harvey knew how to bring the best out of him.

"She was more like a rough-neck. That was the image she portrayed and she knew how to get into you and make you feel comfortable with yourself," he added.

"She brought a cultural aspect into the classroom as well and I never encountered any problems learning anything from her. Whatever she taught I was able to absorb it."

However, one thing Mr.Trott encountered difficulties "absorbing" was retiring from football two years ago, although he still plays an active role in the sport as team medic.

"That was the hardest decision to make. It was hard," he said. "But I'm still there because it's not all about just being on the field and playing the game. The game actually starts at training with preparations. So I am still a part of that."

Mr. Trott's assistant at Ah Who Productions and life-long friend, Sadiq Bashir, meanwhile, promises there is much in store for those who attend tomorrow night's show.

"If you don't highlight righteousness, then how are others going to learn righteousness? We are presently living among a windswept younger generation that doesn't hold anything up here," said Mr. Bashir, grandson of legendary former St. George's Cup Match captain Cal (Bummy) Symonds, pointing to his head.

"They don't value their soul and so they end up getting involved with the drug culture because they don't want to work from nine to five.

"Our youngsters are getting involved with gangs and that in turn is wearing and tearing families down in Bermuda because a person can't go this place or the other without there being a gladiator or samurai fight.

"So this is our way of giving back to the community. If no one sends out the right messages, then we will continue to lose a lot of our young people. We want to educate people about their surroundings and what's going on in their island."

Tomorrow night's programme, dubbed an "explosive variety showcase", features comedy, tap, salsa, hip-hop, reggae and various other vocalists.

Highlighting the show will be performances by Bootsie, Fires of Africa and H&H and Place's Gombey troops. Showtime is at 8.30 p.m. and tickets (patrons $30, general $20, students $10) are available from the Jamaican Grill and Kit 'N' Caboodle or contact busherlogic.bm or vibetribenorthrock.bm.