WILLIAM Golding's classic 1954 novel the Lord of the Flies has withstood the test of time; themes about the fallible and sometimes animalistic facets of human nature still resonate today. From bullying to youth violence, the harrowing story of stranded schoolboys holds a mirror up to communities making them reflect on what could happen to their orderly yet fragile society under extreme duress.

During this year's Bermuda Festival of Performing Arts, audiences will be treated to a theatre adaptation of the book at the Ruth Seaton James Centre for the Performing Arts in Devonshire starting on January 20.

The touring theatre company, Pilot Theatre based out of Castleford, Yorkshire, was brought to the Festival's attention by Bermudian Suzann McClean, daughter of Ann McLean (nee Edmead). When Ms McClean, who lives in England, was here in 2007 directing the production of Moliere's The Sisterhood (Les Femme Savantes) for BMDS, she spoke with Festival organisers to propose the idea.

"Whilst I was in Bermuda I spoke with Karen Pollard, the artistic director for the Bermuda Festival, about the struggles of engaging young people in theatre," said Ms McClean, who is now the educational director for the Pilot Theatre.

"This is a global concern. One of the leading companies in tackling this issue in the UK is Pilot Theatre for whom I have worked with for the past three years. I knew that their next production would be Lord of the Flies, which would be ideal for the Festival."

The production, which has been performed by Pilot more than 750 times around England, has generated fantastic reviews with even the Financial Times weighing in, describing it as "William Golding meets Quentin Tarantino".

"Audiences have been gripped by the production," said Ms McClean. "I saw the Press night in London and you could hear a pin drop. Teen bullying is immensely topical so the production really reached out to the issues that young people face in their lives."

As the educational director for the show, Ms McClean will be speaking to youth and school groups about the play's themes and about opportunities in the field of the performing arts.

"I will be leading workshops in schools throughout the Island the aim is to open the young people of Bermuda up to new possibilities both in theatre and in their lives in general," explained McClean, who graduated from Drama School in London in 1995 and has been working as professional actress since. "The workshops will be based on the issues and dilemmas that young people face as highlighted in Pilot Theatre's production Lord of the Flies; themes of bullying, violence and attacks by young people on other young people. Within the workshops I hope to explore the reasons behind the decisions that the young people make and leave them with a greater awareness of the choices available to them when faced with these challenging situations.

"The workshops also offer the students an opportunity to work through a similar process as the visiting professional actors will have done in rehearsals. This opens opportunities for cultural exchange, to unify and celebrate the various diverse cultures but also for professional development in the arts."

Being that Bermuda is an isolated island in the middle of the Atlantic, it would be easy to envision what could happen if the Island were cut off from the rest of the world, left to govern over finite and precious resources.

"What would do if you were stranded on an island surrounded by only seven other survivors with no visible means to live on?" questioned Ms McClean. "That's a challenge to answer for any of us. What we do know however is that extreme situations to bring out extreme reactions and that is why we find it hard to truthfully predict our reactions.

"William Golding wrote Lord of the Flies in the aftermath of the Second World War. He saw the horrific things that people did to each other when they found themselves in desperate situations. I think that this is exactly what the audience will think about after watching this production. The schoolboys in the play resort to tribal warfare in their struggle to survive and dominate. The play is a chilling lesson in morality. When we look at the current atrocities in Gaza I think the play will resonate with people on an even deeper level."

While many people grew up reading the novel in school, Pilot Theatre's multimedia interpretation is "heartbreakingly realistic" and some scenes could be disturbing for young children. As such, the production is recommended for those over 11 years of age.

When Ms McClean returns to the island later this month, she says it will be a meaningful event.

"Bringing Lord of The Flies to Bermuda fills me with a tremendous sense of honour," she said.

"I have been touched by the recognition that I have received and as such feel an added sense of pride in being a Bermudian. Going into the schools and working with young people is just as important as the play itself. I am keen to let Bermudian's know what their subjects are doing well professionally overseas and to pass on some creative tools that will give young people a love for theatre.

"I am privileged to have been invited to be apart of the Bermuda Festival and hope to help provide opportunities for young people to grow artistically through the art of theatre."

Tickets are still available for the show scheduled for January 20, 21, 22 and 23 and can be purchased online at www.bermudafestival.org or via phone at 232-2255.