In less than a week the curtain goes up on the first performance of the Bermuda Festival 2002.

The Aquila Theatre Company, led by producing artistic director Peter Meineck, will present two performances of Shakespeare's ‘The Tempest,' and one performance of ‘The Wrath of Achilles,' a dramatisation of the later books of Homer's epic war poem, ‘The Iliad,' at City Hall Theatre.

Patrons need not worry, however, that they will be in for a dry or turgid evening's entertainment. Aquila has earned an international reputation as one of the foremost producers of touring classical theatre. Under the leadership of Peter Meineck and associate artistic director Robert Richmond, it is renowned for presenting fresh and inventive productions of classical drama which are designed to breathe new life into the texts and free the spirit of the original works.

British born Mr. Meineck studied the ancient world at London University, and subsequently worked extensively in London's famed West End theatre district before founding Aquila in 1990. Although he is an experienced Production and Tour Manager for a variety of disciplines, his real interest is the classics, and he has published several translations of Greek plays. He holds many prestigious academic positions in the United States, among them adjunct professor at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.

US resident Robert Richmond gained much of his theatrical experience in the UK, and has directed numerous classical productions. He has also written a new adaptation of ‘Cyrano de Bergerac,' and is an accomplished musician and composer. He has lectured and led workshops in the US, and taught drama at several US universities, including the Classical Studio at the Tisch School of the Arts.

Performances dates are as follows: “The Tempest,” January 16 and 17; ‘The Wrath of Achilles,' January 19. Pre-performance talks designed to provide insight into Aquila's two productions will be given by Mr. Meineck in the Bermuda National Gallery on January 16 and 19 beginning at 6.45 p.m. Admission is free, but space is limited.

A theatre workshop will also take place at City Hall theatre on January 18, beginning at 7.30 p.m. For further/ticket information ( the box office at 292-8572 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday to Saturday. For ticket purchases by credit card only ( 296-5774.