The 450th anniversary this year of William Shakespeare’s birth lends a special significance to the upcoming Bermuda Shakespeare Schools Festival, which will be staged for the first time at City Hall’s Earl Cameron Theatre.

“It’s an exciting occasion for the whole world to celebrate — and Bermuda has a love of Shakespeare that goes back a long way,” said BSSF chairman Conchita Ming, noting that her research has taken her to newspaper articles on Shakespearean plays being staged here back in the 19th century.

Bermuda’s link to the Bard extends to the 1609 wreck of the Sea Venture. Most scholars accept that the colourful account of the shipwreck by passenger William Strachey, with its depiction of the Island’s reputation as an abode of devils, was one of the sources for Shakespeare’s work The Tempest, written in 1610 and 1611.

“Teachers in Bermuda have always been very creative with Shakespeare,” Ms Ming said, pointing to CedarBridge Academy’s 2013 production of Julius Caesar that wove in Rastafarian wordplay.

The Island’s history of special performances of Shakespeare’s works have brought the likes of actor Charlton Heston to the Bermuda, and include a performance of The Tempest in the woods of Tom Moore’s Jungle.

Six schools will perform during the October 21 to 22 festival: Saltus, Somersfield Academy and CedarBridge Academy on the first day, and the Berkeley Institute, Bermuda High School for Girls and Warwick Academy on the second day.

“Everybody knows Shakespeare from school — the association goes deep,” added committee member Jean Campbell. “It’s very much a part of the fabric of Bermuda, across the whole community. The plays cover themes that are eternal and universal.”