Celebrations for Berkeley Institute's Centenary Year kick off next week with a special school drama production -- the first of many events planned for the year.

Past and present students are joining forces to produce "Imitating Walter Lee'', a play written by ex-student Shangrila Durham-Thompson and directed by Berkeley speech and drama teacher Kathi De Couto.

"It's a very topical play,'' says Ms De Couto, "and although the material is serious, the way in which various characters react is often amusing.'' Noting that the play is set in different time lines, with the life of the protagonist, Andrew Robinson, seen from the present day, with flashbacks and into the future, she explains that three different people are taking on this role.

"The main part is taken by Roddy Nesbitt who opens the play as a 17-year- old who has just graduated from Berkeley. He is a very gifted actor and I would like to see him take his acting further,'' she says.

Ryan Nesbitt (real-life younger brother of Roddy) takes on the role of Andrew as a first year student and Kim Tucker plays the character as an adult. "The theme of the play covers many of the problems facing young people today,'' says Ms De Couto, "especially young black males .'' In the storyline, Andrew's parents, successful former Berkelyites have high expectations of him, yet have schedules that allow them little time with their son. Vulnerable to those around him, he falls into bad company and ends up spending a night in prison, a night that will change his life forever.

Taking on the role of Andrew's mother is another former Berkleyite, Denise Whitter, one of Bermuda's most successful performers who last year received critical acclaim for her performance as Billie Holiday in "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill''. The adult Andrew will be played by Kim Tucker, with Lamont Robinson taking on the title role of Walter Lee.

Executive producer Maxine Esdaille says the aim is to have sold-out hous es for each performance.

"This is a fundraiser for the school and we want to raise as much money as possible. We are also hoping that people will dress up in special outfits for this once-in-a-lifetime occasion.

"You only celebrate a centenary once!'' The Berkeley Class of 1996 -- more than 20 of them, led by Phyllis Caisey -- has also been working hard on the play's souvenir programme which consists of more than 50 pages, with information on the history of the school (written by Carol Hill), with Meredith Ebbin taking up the threads of the tale where Miss Hill's ends. There is a special article on the history of drama at Berkeley, listing all the past presentations.

The Finance Committee, led by Michael Crichlow has a team of ten people organising, among other things, the large number of patrons who have already purchased tickets for this grand event. Technical chairman Michael Williams has just succeeded in getting other Berkeley Centenary events listed on the Virtual Bermuda homepage on the Internet.

Other dates on the celebratory calendar include a Spring Concert by internationally acclaimed tenor and opera director Gary Burgess, a Centenary School Fair, a Heritage Tea and Fashion Show, a Concert in Victoria Park, Anniversary Banquet, Founders Day and Wreath-laying at St. John's Church and an Art Show at City Hall.

The play will take place at City Hall Theatre from March 20-22. The opening night will be Patrons' Night (tickets $100), commencing at 7 p.m., with a reception afterwards for audience, cast and crew. Friday and Saturday night performances (tickets $25) commence at 8 p.m. There will also be a Saturday matinee at 3 p.m. (tickets $10) which is targetted specially at senior citizens and young people. School children will also be invited to attend the dress rehearsal.

Kathi De Couto