THE Bermuda Musical & Dramatic Society (BMDS) yesterday announced that noted Canadian playwright Kent Stetson has agreed to judge the fifth annual Famous for 15 Minutes Playwriting Festival.

Author of a dozen plays, screenplays and essays, Mr. Stetson was lauded with the Governor General's Literary Award for English drama in 2001 for his work , now being adapted for the big screen as an animated feature film.

On March 27 he will be honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Playwrights' Atlantic Resource Centre, an organisation that governs drama in the Atlantic provinces.

"Kent will bring a critical professional eye to the process and will, I am sure, motivate and enthuse the playwrights and the audience to write for Famous 2007," said Festival producer Kelvin Hastings Smith.

"BMDS continues to give exposure to the professional world of the performing arts from which Bermuda can only benefit. Kent is such a great man. He is so professional and inspirational ? and a fun guy to have around."

Mr. Stetson said he was familiar with Bermuda, having travelled to the island on several occasions but became reacquainted with the island after two residents ? Mr. Hastings Smith and Marg Hammond ? took the master class he teaches at the Prince Edward Island Conservatory.

It was their suggestion that he revisit Bermuda and lend his insight to budding playwrights as part of the annual competition. The playwright admitted to looking forward to the event, thrilled at the prospect of meeting aspiring writers.

"Marge and Kelvin are both terrific writers so it was easy for them to convince me to say yes," he said. "Events such as this are always incredibly rewarding for me. It's a lot like going back to my roots. Having said that, there's no real difference between amateur and professional, small and large productions ? they're all doing the same thing and really loving it."

Six plays will be performed as part of the competition ? by Margie Harriott, by Zawditu Maryam, by Kim Dismont Robinson, by Toby Butterfield, by Julia Pitt andby Doug Jones.

Trained in screenwriting and direction by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Mr. Stetson co-founded, wrote and directed for Charlottetown's independent film company, Points East Productions. His work also extends to the National Film Board of Canada and a wide variety of independent film and television companies including CTV and CBC.

In addition to his work at the PEI Conservatory, the playwright has taught introductory and advanced playwriting at the National Theatre School of Canada and and Montreal's McGill and Concordia universities. He also teaches a master class in drama for screen and stage at L'Atelier La Roque Alric in Provence, France.

The playwright offered the following advice to would-be writers: "Be prepared to rewrite. Also, don't show your work to your husband or wife," he laughed. "Don't share it too soon and when you are confident that you have worked it through and it makes sense, get your friends together to hear it read. It's not live until it's spoken and theatre's a spoken medium."

The winner of the Famous for 15 Minutes Playwriting Festival will receive the Golden Inkwell award, presented by Mr. Stetson, and a cheque for $250. Mr. Stetson will give a free presentation at Daylesford on April 2 at 3 p.m.