After 18 months immersed in history books and many more humming tunes in her car, English composer Ms Lin Marsh presents her original musical drama, commissioned to celebrate the centenary of Bermuda's only all-girls school.

Performed by Bermuda High School for Girls students at the City Hall Theatre this weekend, the show entitled "the Torchbearers'' is a tribute to the role of women in Bermuda's history.

But Ms Marsh, who lives in Oxford and is an acclaimed composer of children's shows in England, claimed she found few references to women in history books that document a male-dominated society.

"It was hard to find historical figures that were women,'' she said. She therefore used her imagination to conjure up female characters that might have played a role in the Island's history since the arrival of the Sea Venture .

The show which lasts one hour and will be on for just two days, was three years in the making.

However, it is unlikely the show will ever be performed again, Ms Marsh said ruefully.

Tailored specifically for the all-girls school, the show features historical figures that include Ann Rolfe, mother of the first Bermuda-born baby and Jean Gardner who was hanged as a witch.

Themes of slavery, Portuguese immigrants and the suffragette movement are also featured among the 13 songs.

Ms Marsh, who advises primary school music teachers and is a musical director at the National Youth Music Theatre in England, first visited Bermuda four years ago to help produce a short musical for the school to highlight environmental issues.

The following year, the school's music department commissioned her to write and direct a musical tribute to the school's 100 years.

"It is very exciting,'' said Ms Marsh. "Especially as it is probably the only time it will be heard.'' With no male parts, Ms Marsh avoided the age-old problem of dressing girls up as boys. But how to spice up an all-girl cast? Ms Marsh hopes the show's colourful characters and varied songs will carry the performance along.

Described as a show which is "light in tone'' but which deals with some "quite heavy things'' Ms Marsh adds there are some real tear-jerking moments too.

"It's really exciting,'' she said. "Yesterday was magic because the girls were in costume for the first time. This is what it was meant to be. I didn't realise they could do it so well.'' Ms Marsh, who attended an all girls school herself, says she is not a great fan of single-sex education. But equality between the sexes, especially in education, is clearly a favourite theme.

"It think it will show the girls the importance of history and education.

Without it, I think they realise they would be like all the women in the play,'' she said.

Tickets at $10 for students and $20 for adults are available at the door or from BHS.

Both performances begin at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall tonight and Saturday.

Next week, a slide show by photographer Ms Ann Smith Gordon will trace the school's development from its beginnings on Reid Street until today.

It will take place in the Queen Elizabeth Hall at BHS on Tuesday May 9 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10 and are available at the door.

For additional information call: 292-8617.