THE Bermuda Festival of the Performing Arts is to offer two master classes to talented residents as part of its 2007 season ? a first since it was founded in 1976.

The classes will be open to the wider community for viewing, part of a unique plan to help the public gain a glimpse of what are usually behind-the-scenes preparations for performances. The classes were inspired by a successful programme the Festival began two years ago, which was designed to raise cultural awareness among the island's youth.

"The master classes are both enlightening and entertaining," said Karen Pollard, artistic director for the Bermuda Festival. "We found that the Schools Outreach Programme was hugely successful and we wanted to provide the wider community with the same opportunity. It's a chance for people to see what it takes to perform an opera like or deliver a Shakespearean masterpiece like to a live audience. They should prove of interest to anybody who is interested in watching how a performance comes together."

Founder and director of Opera A La Carte Nick Heath, and members of his company, will conduct a master class for four local singers.

"This is a rare and exciting opportunity, particularly for those pursuing classical voice training, to learn from opera singers who have performed internationally at Covent Garden and other major world opera houses," Ms Pollard added. "The focus will mainly be on interpretation and performance."

Bermuda's familiarity with the Aquila Theatre Company should generate great interest in its master class ? both from participants and the viewing public.

"The Aquila Theatre Company is very familiar to the island. Obviously only a limited number can participate but the public is invited to come to watch. The Shakespeare master class is a participatory master class that explores the beauties and difficulties found while acting Shakespeare. Participants will be shown the clear directions and choices that Shakespeare gives the actor within the text, and will be introduced to some of Aquila's methods of classical acting. This textual analysis will include examples of verse structure and rhythm, and will focus on exploring the demands and rewards of verse speaking. It is devised to give participants a strong comprehension and illumination of a Shakespearean text from a performance perspective."

Festival chairman John Ellison agreed: "Rather than being simple extracts from the performances, our master classes focus on specific aspects of the performance.

"By scheduling the master classes in advance of their performances as part of the Bermuda Festival, people who have not yet purchased tickets will be able to sample a taste of what is yet to come and, for those who have already booked tickets, it's an opportunity to enhance their enjoyment of the performances."

Persons aged 18 or older who are interested in participating in either master class, should contact Karen Pollard on 295-1291 or send an e-mail, bdafestlogic.org. Those interested in viewing the master classes may purchase tickets, at $5, through the Bermuda Festival web site, www.bermudafestival.org or at the Bermuda Festival box office, open 12 p.m. through 2 p.m. today and tomorrow. The box office re-opens on January 8.