It's a Russian word meaning three of a kind or a collection of three – so it's very fitting as far as Nishanthi Bailey, Shoa Bean and Seldon Woolridge are concerned.

The three regularly performed together, but after a gap they have reunited to form TROIKA with a view to giving something back to the a community that helped them when they were young, aspiring artists.

"It was out of a common interest, we worked on road shows together, but we went our separate ways to further our education and to get more experience in the field," said Mr. Woolridge, the choreographer.

"We noticed that there was a lack of programming in Bermuda and for young people in general. We were able to benefit from the programmes that were available during our time, so it was just out of having an interest to give back to the community that this would be one of our significant contributions."

Their first project aims to give Bermuda's youth a say about violence in the community and is scheduled to be performed next month.

It is currently called 'A Work in Progress #1' as the actors are compiling the script and story as they go along – no script has been written at all – and it relies on perceptions and real experiences.

As a result, it requires the entire cast for scriptwriting and input and although the production remains untitled at the moment, come opening night it will be given a name.

"It allows the players to really use this opportunity to express themselves," added Mr. Woolridge, who produced shows while he was in university.

"Someone could have written a script and it would have come from that one perspective, but we are bringing different brains and creative energies together to create a picture, which should be different. It's not, 'You will play the part of Sally'."

Mr. Woolridge added: "A lot of times when we'd come back on summer breaks, we would say that we have to do something and this was the final year.

"We decided to put our foot in and really do something, especially with what is going on in the community right now in terms of the violence.

"We feel there were programmes that we were involved in that kept us in tune and out of trouble and they helped with our personal growth and development. This is just our contribution and we want to get back into the arts too."

Mr. Woolridge, who has a BA in Economics and Business Management and Finance, added: "New energy is what is driving this project, not just what is seen on the stage, but the total picture, so it is something new, fresh, edgy, and we are trying to keep it relevant as well."

The three founders performed both in Bermuda and internationally together with the Department of Youth Sport and Recreation's Annual Road Show, Black Box Productions, Linda Paynter Productions, THE Company, PRIDE Bermuda and Youth 2 Youth – to name a few.

TROIKA Director Miss Bailey, who has a degree in Spanish and Primary Education, with a minor in Theatre and Drama, said, the project was about taking control of their art and stepping out on their own.

"We were always doing something underneath someone else," she said. "So this is us taking care of our art and this is what we are trying to train our young people on how to prepare, how to work and how to better yourself in your craft."

Miss Bailey, who started performing during her father Wendell (Shine) Hayward's Jazz Suppers, added: "We kept saying, 'let's do something', but the big question was, 'what and how?'

"This will be a production of original work that focuses on a community issue, this year's issue is violence and how it is affecting our community.

"It is a matter of giving the youth a voice through the arts, because as a school teacher I hear what these youngsters are saying and they know what is going on, but they don't have an avenue to express it.

"So we are outlining some scenes for them, but they will give the voice."

Technical director Miss Bean, who started out as a dancer, said the aim was to expand the TROIKA Players' horizons by introducing them to other areas such as the technical side.

"I have a technical background, so it is also theatre etiquette, how to have headshots for auditions, their biography. It is not just singing, dancing, acting, it is also about learning the whole picture of the arts," said Miss Bean who worked for Spanish Town and is now employed by The Ruth Seaton James Centre for the Performing Arts.

"The road shows (of the 90s) were singing, dancing, acting, but we are taking it a step further and what it takes to make things happen and how to put a production together from start to finish."

On the feedback from the TROIKA Players, Miss Bean, who read for a BA in Business Entertainment, said: "When Nishanthi was talking they were taking notes, their brains were ticking and they were really excited about it."

Miss Bailey added: "I think we have set the bar in that theatre is fun, but there is also a level of seriousness. What is great is that we are not just working with a pool of students that were put into an acting class, these are kids who really want to do this."

And Mr. Woolridge said: "They came out and auditioned, they came prepared and it is with that notion that you get that hunger.

"I feel a lot of them want another outlet in which to perform, so we are very excited.

"We know the young people are going to bring it and we are looking forward to working with them to bring something that is organic and fresh.

"Our main motto is 'keeping the drama on stage' and let it entertain us.

"The three V's are vision, voice and vigour; the vision is the idea, which is focusing on violence in the community, the young people will give that vision a voice, and they will perform it with vigour."

Work In Progress #1 will be held at the Ruth Seaton James Centre for the Performing Arts from September 3 to September 5. Showtime 8 p.m.

Tickets $25, Patrons $50. can be purchased from www.bdatix.com ring 517-1718 or troikabda@gmail.com.