Performing arts charity Troika Bermudas make their international debut this summer at the National Black Theatre Festival in North Caolina.As their first appearance outside the Island it is a significant milestone for the group.Troika will perform the choreoplay ‘Misunderstood’ at the festival in Winston-Salem.“Performing internationally is the one pillar of Troika we hadn’t yet accomplished,” said Seldon Woolridge, who founded Troika with Shoa Bean. “It is fitting that in Troika’s fifth year this is the last pillar we are now accomplishing.”The choreoplay with music, acting and dancing, was written for Troika in 2011 by New York writer and director Larry Floyd. Because the National Black Theatre Festival is only held every other year Troika had to wait until 2013 to perform it there. In the meantime they debuted it in Bermuda last year at City Hall to a sold out audience.‘Misunderstood’ is 90 minutes long. Music was directed and composed by Leroy Francis and it was choreographed by Zalika Millett. It is about a group of forsaken students who look for their purpose and meaning in a world that seems to only want to confine their dreams and passions.“It touches on a myriad of issues that young people face, especially in their youth in high school,” said Mr Woolridge. “It follows some of the deep issues that kids are facing but are often not able to express such as depression, love, hate and relationships.”To be selected Troika had to submit a media packet that included reviews of the production, details of the organisation and a submission about why they should be considered. A member of festival selection committee also came to Bermuda to have a look at the production.Twenty-five students from Bermuda will travel to North Carolina to take part in the festival.“My character in ‘Misunderstood’ is a nerd,” said Coy Millett, 21 who attends the University of Western Ontario. “He has been equated to Steve Urkel from the television programme ‘Family Matters’. My character has problems with bullying because he does not fit in with the group. He has felt depression. He wants to belong. We are able to communicate the message to the audience that whatever you are going through you are not the only person. People have been there. That is one of the main things we wanted to do through my character.”Shaloi Duncan, 19, a student at the Bermuda College, said her character was snobbish to cover up deeper personal issues.“She is trying to hide her past in relation to her family background and family structure,” said Miss Duncan. “Later, she finds out that her father stays at the Salvation Army and is involved in drugs. Her mother has neglected her. My character deals with a lot of deeper issues.”Kayla Hollis, 22, also a student at the Bermuda College, said she was excited about taking part in the festival because she would eventually like to go into acting as a career.“I am looking forward to being in a part of this,” she said. “The 2012 performance Troika did of ‘Misunderstood’ was the only one I haven’t participated in. This is such a tremendous opportunity.”Co-founder Shoa Bean said they want to use the international exposure to take their members to another level.“We want them to be exposed to different things,” she said. “At the festival they will be exposed to things offstage and people who are in the same arena or same career they would like to be in. This production will be something that can show the thoughts of young people and the culture of Bermuda, and what we experience. They might find out they experience the same things and it is a world wide phenomenon. They will blow away those audiences. They will be able to come back and say we effectively represented Bermuda.”They were one of 30 performances selected out of 130 entries to the festival. ‘Misunderstood’ will run for four performances at the festival. The dates are as follows: July 31 at 3pm, August 1 at 8pm, Friday, August 2 at 8pm and August 3 at 3pm. Tickets for the performances go on sale soon and more information can be found at www.nbtf.org.Troika Bermuda will also be launching their ‘Keep the Arts Alive!’ fundraising campaign to raise funds to support this endeavour and other upcoming programs such as Bermuda Glee.For more information about Troika see www.troikabda.com.