The Gaelic theatre-in-education group Meanbh-chuileag, which operates as a Fèisean nan Gàidheal project, is in the middle of a Scotland-wide tour with a new play.

‘Aonan’ aims at Gaelic-speaking pupils in p4 to p7 and aims to introduce pupils to a subject that potentially impacts on us all – wildlife crime, and the effect this could have on animals around us. The play is lively and humorous and has been enjoyed by pupils and teachers. As Christine Smith, who teaches p5 to 7 in Laxdale School, Lewis, said: “We really enjoyed the play.  It was perfect in terms of grabbing the kids’ attention, and it was also good in terms of informing them about the environment and recycling. The play was put together in a very attractive and funny way”.

There are nine characters in the play altogether, including an osprey which suffers as a result of the activities of a wildlife criminal, Hector the plunderer.  On top of finding out about some of the animals and birds which are in danger of extinction in this country, and the reasons behind this, the pupils receive information about what they should do if they suspect anything unpleasant is going on.

Rehearsals were held mid-February in Glasgow under the direction of Artair Donald from the Gaelic Theatre ‘Tog-i’.

As is usual with Meanbh-chuileag plays two actors are involved, and this time around it is Angus MacLeod, who wrote the play, and Sean MacLeod, from Upper Coll in Lewis who have been on the road. This is Sean’s second time as a Meanbh-chuileag actor, after spending a week with them on tour in December with the pantomime ‘Marsaili agus a’ Bhleideag Airgid’.

The tour kicked off on 22 February at Condorrat Primary School, Cumbernauld, and it will be on the road until 1 April with the last performance at Craighill Primary School, Tain. This last week will be spent in Highland and Argyll Schools, but before this the group will have visited almost every Gaelic primary school.

The tour was funded by Bòrd na Gàidhlig, and additional support was provided by Scottish Natural Heritage, through ‘PAW Scotland’ which campaigns against wildlife crime in Scotland.

The sixth Argyll and Lochaber Gaelic Drama Festival will be held in the Corran Halls, Oban on Tuesday 29 March at 1.30pm.  This event is open to all and gives the public the chance to see the product of three months of hard drama work from Argyll and Lochaber schools.

The Gaelic Drama Summer School has now been running under the direction of Fèisean nan Gàidheal for three years, and this years Sgoil will be held in Portree from 4 to 15 July. This initiative is free of charge to any Gaelic speaker aged 14 to 18, and since 2008 over 50 young actors have received training in a wide variety of drama skills. More information and an application form can be found at http://www.feisean.org/downloads/SSD2011app.pdf.

For more information about drama at Fèisean nan Gàidheal please contact Dougie Beck on 01463 225559 or dougie@feisean.org.

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Trì pròiseactan dràma a’ dol aig Fèisean nan Gàidheal

Tha am buidheann dràma-oideachaidh ‘Meanbh-chuileag’ a tha fo sgèith Fèisean nan Gàidheal an teis-meadhan cuairt air feadh Alba an-dràsta le dealbh-cluich ùr.

Tha an dealbh-cluich Gàidhlig ‘Aonan’ ag amas air sgoilearan eadar p4 agus p7 agus a’ togail air a’ chuspair eucoir fiadh-bheatha ann an Alba agus na beathaichean agus na h-eòin a tha an cunnart a dhol à bith air sgàth sin.  ‘S e dealbh-cluich beòthail agus èibhinn a th’ ann a tha a’ còrdadh ri na sgoilearan agus luchd-teagaisg gu mòr.  Thuirt Christine Nic a’ Ghobhainn, a tha teagasg P5 – P7 aig Sgoil Lacasdail: “Chòrd an dealbh-chluich rinn gu mòr. Bha e math airson aire na cloinne a ghlacadh.  Bha e cuideachd math airson an oideachadh mu dheidhinn an àrainneachd agus ath-chuairteachadh. Bha e air a dhèanamh ann an dòigh tarraingeach agus èibhinn.”

Tha 9 charactaran anns an dealbh-cluich uile gu lèir; le iolairean mara nam measg, a bhios a’ fulaing gu mòr ri linn an dol-a-mach aig an eucoiriche fiadh-bheatha, Eachann an Creachadair.  A bharrachd air eòlas fhaighinn air cuid de na beathaichean agus na h-eòin a tha an cunnart a dhol à bith anns an dùthaich seo agus na h-adhbharan air cùl sin gheibh a’ chlann stiùir air na bu chòir dhaibh dhèanamh ma tha amharas aca gu bheil a leithid a’ dol air adhart.

Chaidh obair dheasachaidh a dhèanamh air an dealbh-chluich ann am meadhan a’ Ghearrain ann an Glaschu fo stiùir Artair Donald bhon theatar Ghàidhlig ‘Tog-i’.

Mar as àbhaist do dhealbhan-cluiche Meanbh-chuileag tha dithis cleasaichean an sàs, agus an turas sa ‘s iad Aonghas MacLeòid , a sgrìobh an dealbh-cluich, a tha na oifigear dràma airson Fèisean nan Gàidheal agus Sean MacLeòid a bhuineas do Chol Uararach ann an Leòdhas.  B’ e seo an dàrna turas a dh’fhastaich Meanbh-chuileag Sean mar chleasaiche as dèidh dha obair an àrd-ùrlair a dhèanamh leotha san Dùbhlachd 2010 anns an dealbh-cluich Nollaig ‘Marsaili agus a’ Bhleideag Airgid’.

Thòisich a’ chuairt Dimàirt 22 Gearran aig Bun-sgoil Condorrat ann an Comar nan Allt agus bidh e air an rathad chun a’ chiad latha den Ghiblein far an crìochnaich e aig Bun-sgoil Chnoc na Creige ann am Baile Dhùbhthaich.  Bidh an t-seachdain mu dheireadh den chuairt air a cur seachad air Ghàidhealtachd agus ann an Earra Ghàidheal, ach ron a seo bidh a’ bhuidheann air tadhal air cha mhòr a h-uile bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig ann an Alba.

Chaidh a’ phròiseact a mhaoineachdadh le Bòrd na Gàidhlig agus fhuaradh taic-airgead a bharrachd bho Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba fon roinn aig ‘PAW Scotland’ a bhios gu sònraichte a’ sabaid an aghaidh Eucoir Fiadh-bheatha ann an Alba.

Tha siathamh Fèis Dhràma Earra Ghàidheal is Loch Abar gu bhith ga cumail ann an Tallaichean Chorrain, an t-Òban Dimàirt 29 Màrt aig 1.30.  Tha am feasgar taisbeanaidh seo fosgailte do dhuine sam bith, agus bidh cothrom aig a’ mhòr-sluagh toradh saothair sgoiltean Gàidhlig Earra Ghàidheal is Loch Abar fhaicinn is iad a’ taisbeanadh na rinn iad rè trì mìosan de dh’obair chruaidh.

Tha an Sgoil Shamhraidh Dhràma a-nise air a bhith a’ ruith fo sgèith Fèisean nan Gàidheal fad trì bliadhna, agus bidh Sgoil na bliadhna sa a’ tachairt ann am Port Rìgh eadar 4 agus 15 Iuchar. Tha an iomairt seo an asgaidh do dhuine sam bidh eadar 14 agus 18 bliadhna dh’aois le Gàidhlig, agus bho 2008 tha còrr is 50 cleasaiche òg air trèanadh fhaighinn ann an caochladh farsaing de sgilean dràma. Gheibhear tuilleadh fiosrachaidh agus foirm iarrtais aig http://www.feisean.org/downloads/SSD2011app.pdf

Airson tuilleadh fiosrachaidh mu dhràma aig Fèisean nan Gàidheal cuiribh fios gu Dougie Beck air 01463 225559 no dougie@feisean.org.

Source: Fèisean nan Gàidheal