A LOCAL theatre group is hoping to film Shakespeare's , using Bermuda as a backdrop.

Waterspout Theatre is now looking for actors and dancers willing to commit to a live theatre production of the play, and an ensuing film version.

"Our initial idea was to do the show and shoot something on video, afterwards, in various locations," said John Zuill, a veteran actor and member of the troupe.

"My brother, Robert, is a camera man. He worked for CNN as a producer. We were out one day driving ? I think to pick up my mum at the airport or something ? and, I forget whose idea it was, but we just thought we would try and film it.

"It seemed like a good idea, because of our location and everything. And, because we've been doing Shakespeare's plays onstage for a while, it just seemed to me that it would be interesting to play around with another medium and see what it was like. It just seemed to be appropriate."

is generally cited as the last stage piece written by William Shakespeare, crafted some time around 1610.

The play revolves around the plots and happenings after a party of seafarers is stranded on a strange island by a storm or tempest.

Unbeknownst to them, the storm was conjured up by a magician, Prospero, who inhabits the island. It is believed Shakespeare wrote the play with Bermuda in mind.

"Waterspout as a theatre group is sort of a growing thing," Mr. Zuill said in describing the company's origin.

"It started out as a poetry reading club some years ago and then went on to a slightly theatrical / performance group. And then, we started offering a class in Shakespeare. We did . We went on to . We did some Japanese plays. So we've been sort of moving, getting a little bigger all the time."

will be directed by Andrew Bacon. Mr. Zuill will offer some assistance in that area, and will also play Prospero. Dionne Devoy is to produce.

"Waterspout doesn't have many creeds, but one of them is that we make things interesting," Mr. Zuill added. "has often been done boringly although apparently not in Bermuda. The last one, done here in the '80s, was Andrew Trimingham's .

"From everything anybody's said about it, it was really quite good. But is often done lamely and we're going to try and shake it up a bit."

He confessed that if the stage version is a complete failure, the film production is unlikely to move forward. Should it be a success, however, the group is likely to market the film on the island and perhaps even submit it to the Bermuda International Film Festival for consideration.

"We haven't particularly had a good response to the audition call, but you don't usually get a great response in Bermuda," he said. "The population is so small, you get a lot less people. But, they can be good.

"But I have a good feeling. We are pretty sure it will happen. We have people that we rely on. People who will turn up. People we are confident in."

Waterspout hopes to perform onstage in June. Persons interested in auditioning for the play should contact Mr. Zuill or Mr. Bacon via e-mail ? joznorthrock.bm or, andrew.baconbm.cingular.com.