The National Theatre of Scotland Gaelic Development programme launches with new play by Iain Finlay Macleod.

Somersaults is presented as part of National Theatre of Scotland’s five week Reveal residency at the Traverse Theatre Edinburgh. The performances in Edinburgh are from Thursday 10 until Saturday 19 March and the production then continues to the Citizens Theatre, Glasgow, Macphail Theatre, Ullapool and An Lanntair, Stornoway.

This new play by Gaelic playwright Iain Finlay Macleod, which premieres at the Traverse Theatre launches a new development programme for Gaelic artists and work at the National Theatre of Scotland.

The production originated following discussion between writer Iain Finlay Macleod and Vicky Featherstone, Artistic Director of the National Theatre of Scotland, on the decline of the Gaelic language. Iain was then given a Writers Attachment with the Company in 2009 and was subsequently awarded a play-writing commission which sees this presentation of Somersaults as a platform performance during Reveal.

Cambridge graduate James (Tony Kearney) has it all: wealth, a beautiful wife Alison (Frances Grey), a swanky London flat. But when the creditors move in and his wife moves out, James suddenly finds he’s left with nothing. Nothing but words, and even they are starting to slip away.  James’ father Sandy (Angus Peter Campbell) is dying – his last connection to his childhood, his upbringing and the language of his birth, Gaelic. With this link gone, James fears he will simply cease to exist.

Am I sad that my language is dying?
Yes I am
I feel the edges of the light move in and wonder if one day there will only be me, or someone like me, carrying words for the world which no-one else knows.

Forced to confront his past and the conflict of identity within him, James explores the importance of language and how it defines who we are. Questions of identity, belonging and a sense of self are universal, no matter what language you speak.

Presented as a platform performance – a smaller scale production rehearsed over just two weeks enables audiences to share this evolving play and discover how it can further develop.

Iain Finlay Macleod, Writer, said: “Working with National Theatre of Scotland on a play about questions of language and identity has been one of the most interesting, revealing and stretching experiences I have had in theatre.

“The support and expertise of National Theatre of Scotland is exactly what Gaelic speaking theatre practitioners need to produce relevant, exciting work.”

As the Company continues to develop it seeks to appoint its first Gaelic Associate Artist. This Associate will work with the National Theatre of Scotland over 12 months to support the Company’s artistic planning, inform its Gaelic development programme and devise new personal artistic projects.  Interested parties are encouraged to find out more/ download a Job Pack by visiting:  www.nationaltheatrescotland.com/jobs

Vicky Featherstone, Artistic Director, National Theatre of Scotland, explains the motivation behind the Reveal Season:  “It’s time to pull back the curtains and invite audiences in to experience some of the work we have been developing at the National Theatre of Scotland. There is much in here about Scotland’s interest with the international world – plays from Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina in the A Play, A Pie and A Pint season as well as the ethical complexity of a person’s right to make decisions for other people explored in Girl X.”

Tha Somersaults gu bhith air a chur air àrd-ùrlar ann an Theater an Traverse mar phàirt den chòmhnaidheachd còig-bliadhna Reveal aig Theater Nàiseanta na h-Alba. Bidh an dealbh-chluich air àrd-ùrlar ann an Dùn Èideann bho Diardaoin 10 gu Disathairne 19 Màirt agus a’ leantainn air adhart an uair sin ann an Theater nan Saoranach, Glaschu, Theater MhicPhàil, Ulapul agus An Lanntair, Steòrnabhagh.

Tha an dealbh-chluich ùr seo leis an sgrìobhadair dràma Gàidhlig, Iain Fionnlagh Macleòid, a bhios air a chur air àrd-ùrlar airson a’ chiad uair ann an Theater an Traverse, a’ cur prògram leasachaidh ùr air bhog do luchd-ealain Ghàidhlig agus obair ann an Theater Nàiseanta na h-Alba.

Thàinig an dealbh-chluich gu bith tro chòmhradh mu chrìonadh na Gàidhlig eadar an sgrìobhadair, Iain Fionnlagh MacLeòid agus Vicky Featherstone, an Stiùiriche Ealaineach aig Theater Nàiseanta na h-Alba. Thugadh Ceangal Sgrìobhadair leis a’ Chompanaidh do dh’Iain ann an 2009 agus na dhèidh sin chaidh coimisean sgrìobhaidh a bhuileachadh air, a tha a-nis a’ toradh ann an taisbeanadh de Somersaults mar choileanadh àrd-ùrlair aig àm Reveal.

Tha gach nì a dh’iarradh e aig a’ cheumnaiche à Cambridge, Seumas (Tony Kearney):  beairteas, bean eireachdail, Alison (Frangag Grey) agus flat fìor-spaideil ann an Lunnainn. Ach, nuair a ghluaiseas an luchd-fiach a-steach agus a bhean a-mach, tha Seumas gu h-obann a’ tuigsinn gu bheil e air fhàgail gun nì. Dad ach facail, agus tha fiù iadsan a’ tòiseachadh a’ sleamhnachadh air falbh bhuaithe.  Tha athair Sheumais, Sandaidh (Aonghas Pàdraig Caimbeul) a’ bàsachadh  –  an ceangal mu dheireadh gu làithean òige, agus leis a’ Ghàidhlig, cànan a bhreith is àraich. Leis a’ cheangal seo air imeachd, tha eagal air Seumas gun stad e dìreach a bhith beò.

A bheil aithreachas orm gu bheil mo chànan a’ bàsachadh?

Tha.

Tha mi a’ fidreachdainn oirean den t-solas a’ gluasad a-steach agus tha mi a’ gabhail iongnadh am bi ann ach mi fhìn latheigin, no cuideigin coltach rium,  a’ giùlain fhacal don t-saoghal air nach eil aithne aig neach sam bith eile.

Gun roghainn aige ach aghaidh a chur ris an àm a dh’fhalbh agus ris an t-strì a thaobh dearbh-aithne an taobh a-staigh dheth, tha Seumas a’ rannsachadh cudromachd cànain agus mar a tha cànan a’ comharrachadh cò sinn. Tha ceistean dearbh-aithne, buinteanas agus fèin-mhothachadh uile-choitcheann, ge ’r bith dè an cànan a th’ agad.

Air a taisbeanadh mar choileanadh àrd-ùrlair – tha an dealbh-chluich bheag seo, a thàinig gu ìre thairis air ceala-deug, a’ ceadachadh do luchd-amharc co-roinneadh ann am mean-fhàs na deilbh-chluiche seo, agus faighinn a-mach mar a leasaicheas i nas fhaide.

Thuirt an Sgrìobhadair, Iain Fionnlagh Macleòid: “Tha a bhith ag obair le Theater Nàiseanta na h-Alba air dealbh-chluich mu cheistean cànain agus dearbh-aithne air a bhith mar aon de na gnìomhan as inntinniche, as fhollaisiche agus as dùbhlanaiche a tha air a bhith agam a-riamh an lùib dràma.

“ ’S e an taic agus an t-ealantas a tha Theater Nàiseanta na h-Alba a’ tairgsinn, dìreach an nì air a bheil feum aig luchd-cleachdaidh dràma le Gàidhlig gus obair spreagail buntainneach a thoirt gu buil.”

Mar a bhios an Companaidh a’ leantainn air adhart a’ leasachadh, thathar a’ coimhead ris a’ chiad Com-pàirtiche Ealain Gàidhlig a chur an dreuchd. Bidh an Com-pàirtiche seo ag obair le Theater Nàiseanta na h-Alba thairis air 12 mìosan, gus taic a chur ri planadh ealaineach a’ Chompanaidh, a phrògram leasachaidh Gàidhlig fhiosrachadh agus pròiseactan ealaineach ùra pearsanta a dhealbh. Thathar ag iarraidh air neach sam bith le ùidh tuilleadh fiosrachaidh fhaotainn / Pasgan Obrach a luchdachadh sìos, le bhith a’ tadhal air:  www.nationaltheatrescotland.com/jobs

Tha Vicky Featherstone, Stiùiriche Ealaineach, Theater Nàiseanta na h-Alba, a’ mìneachadh an rùin air cùlaibh an t-Seusain Reveal:  “Tha an t-àm ann na cùirtearan a tharraing air ais agus cuireadh a thoirt do luchd-amharc a thighinn a-steach a dh’fhaicinn cuid den obair a tha sinn air a bhith a’ leasachadh aig Theater Nàiseanta na h-Alba. Tha mòran an seo mu ùidh na h-Alba anns an t-saoghal eadar-nàiseanta – deilbh-chluich à Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina ann an seusan Dealbh, Paidh agus Pinnt, a thuilleadh air iomadh-fhillteachd beusanta còir neach sam bith co-dhùnaidhean a dhèanamh do dhaoine eile, mar a chaidh a sgrùdadh ann an Girl X.”

Venue, Dates & Times: Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh

Thu 10 – Sat 19 March at 7pm (not Mon 14)

Ticket Prices: Tue – Thu & Sun £8 (Unemployed £5), Fri & Sat £12 (Unemployed £8)

Online: www.traverse.co.uk

Box Office: 0131 228 1404

Venue, Dates & Times: Citizens Theatre, Circle Studio Wed 23 – Sat 26 March, 7.30pm

Ticket Prices:  £12.50 (concessions available)

Online: www.citz.co.uk

Box Office: 0141 429 0022

Venue, Date & Time: Macphail Theatre, Ullapool Wed 30 March 7.30pm

Ticket prices: £7/£5

Online: www.thebooth.co.uk

Box Office: 01854 613336

Venue, Date & Time: An Lanntair, Stornoway Fri 1 April 8.00pm

Ticket prices: £10/£9/£8

Online: www.lanntair.com

Box Office: 01851 708 480

Source: National Theatre of Scotland