LOCAL students are to be featured in a documentary produced by British cable company Sky TV.

The programme will include theatrical performances planned as part of the Schools Festival, to be celebrated here and in countries around the world, later this month.

Students from all of the island's senior schools and also the Bermuda College will participate in the event, performing abridged versions of Shakespearean plays before the public at various locations.

Independent networks BBC and CNN will provide general news coverage offering Festival highlights, however Sky TV is to dedicate a portion of its documentary to Bermuda.

"Bermuda's senior schools and the Bermuda College are all taking part in the internationally acclaimed project Shakespeare 24," said Bermuda Shakespeare Schools Festival (BSSF) steering committee member Jo Shane. "We have just heard that three of the largest news networks - BBC, CNN and Sky TV - are planning major coverage of the event. Sky TV, in particular, is planning a ten-minute segment concentrating solely on the Bermudian Shakespeare Festival. Our schools are at present selecting segments of their rehearsals to be filmed for inclusion in the programme and students are very excited that their work will be featured in this international spotlight."

The Festival was the brainchild of BBC producer Chris Grace who offered the concept in 2000 based on a 12-part animated Shakespeare production series he was then working on.

"He thought if all these students are watching this series why not create a platform for them to perform these plays with professional guidance," said Ms Shane. "And so the Festival started. It was first presented as a pilot in Wales and London."

Response to the concept grew and more teachers and students took up the challenge nationwide, she added. The Berkeley Institute's drama teacher, Josephine Kattan, proposed the idea locally following a successful trip with students to the Shakespeare 24 Festival in the UK last year.

"They enjoyed it so much they wanted to bring it back to Bermuda," Ms Shane explained. "She put together a steering committee and invited all the senior schools and the Bermuda College to present a play."

Abridged versions of six of Shakespeare's works will now be performed between April 21 and 24 - Romeo and Juliet at the Berkeley Institute; Henry V at Warwick Academy; The Tempest at the Bermuda College; Macbeth at Bermuda High School; Anthony and Cleopatra at CedarBridge Academy and The Taming of the Shrew at Bermuda Institute.

On April 23, segments from each production will form part of a special presentation commemorated by participating schools around the world.

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