Bermuda will be represented by a local theatre group at this year's National Black Theatre Festival in North Carolina.

Playwright Ms Patrice Belinda Frith, founder of Creative Perceptions, spoke to the Hamilton Lions about the group's progress since its beginning in 1989.

Ms Frith has written and produced two plays, entitled `Contrasts' and `Collage' which were performed by Creative Perceptions at City Hall.

The group was asked to perform `Collage' at this year's National Black Theatre Festival which takes place in August.

Ms Frith told the audience that she became interested in the theatre after attending a play with her mother a few years ago. She began writing plays and got friends and family together to perform them.

Friends and family soon became Creative Perceptions.

Although the group of 25 leaves for the Festival this week they still need to raise a couple more thousand dollars to pay for the trip.

So far they have held included walk-a-thons, a fashion show, a car wash and bake sales to raise money.

At times Ms Frith said she felt like quitting, but she continued to "focus on the light at the end of the tunnel''.

"Opportunities like this don't come along often,'' the 29-year-old added.

After thanking all the people who have supported the group, including the Bermuda Arts Council, Ms Frith said she hoped the group "would do Bermuda proud''.