The Sgoil Shamhraidh Dhràma – the annual Gaelic Drama Summer School – is drawing to a close this Friday. Before then, on Thursday evening (12 July) there will be performances at the Fàs Studio in Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Sleat, where the young actors from the Sgoil Shamhraidh will be joined by musicians from various Fèisean who have been undergoing preparations at Fèis Alba, being held at the Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music in Plockton, before taking to the road for their Cèilidh Trails.

The Sgoil Shamhraidh Dhràma was originally run by Pròiseact nan Ealan but, with financial assistance from Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Highlands & Islands Enterprise and Creative Scotland, was re-estaiblished by Fèisean nan Gàidheal five years ago, over which time more than 70 young actors have benefitted from training in a wide range of drama skills.

This year’s event has been held in Portree and, as usual, a strong team of tutors has been assembled to keep the young participants busy in workshops and other events over the past fortnight. Artair Donald is the director of the school this year and he has been ably assisted by well-known actor Davie Walker, Ruairidh Nicolson of Eden Court and Gaelic singer, musician and broadcaster Mary Ann Kennedy.

The 2010 students have come from all parts between Uist, Skye, Morar, Fort William, Glasgow and Edinburgh. These young stars, all between 14 and 18, have been working hard preparing for the final night performances but have had many experiences along the way, including film-making, street theatre and outdoor sports all conducted through the medium of Gaelic.

Arthur Cormack, Fèisean nan Gàidheal’s Chief Executive, said: “Drama is an important medium through which young people can express themselves in Gaelic and events like the Sgoil Shamhraidh Dhràma create opportunities for young Gaelic speakers to use the language in a range of activities. The successful re-establishment of the Sgoil Shamhraidh Dhràma five years ago has led to a large number of young people having gained new skills through a positive experience which can be put to good use in a variety of situations and we hope that we will be able to continue developing the event. Combining the final evening with young musicians performing alongside the Sgoil Shamhraidh participants was extremely entertaining last year and we are very happy to be working with MG ALBA to gain use of the excellent Fàs studio facilities at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig again this year.”

For further information on the Sgoil Shamhraidh Dhràma, please contact Dougie Beck on 07900 001117. For tickets to the final performances, please contact Fèisean nan Gàidheal on 01478 613355 or purchase them on the night.

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Soirbheas na Sgoile Samhraidh Dhràma thairis air còig bliadhna

Tha an Sgoil Shamhraidh Dhràma a’ tighinn gu crìch Dihaoine sa tighinn. Ron sin, bidh oidhche mhòr de dhràma is ceòl ga cumail ann an Slèite Diardaoin (12 Iuchar) aig 7.30f. Bidh sgioba na Sgoile Samhraidh is sgioba Fèis Alba a tha air a bhith a’ dol ann an Sgoil Chiùil na Gàidhealtachd sa Phloc, a’ tighinn còmhla gus oidhche thaisbeanaidh air leth a chur ri chèile ann an Stiùideo FÀS, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig.

Ged a bha an i air a ruith le Pròiseact nan Ealan an toiseach, chaidh an Sgoil Shamhraidh Dhràma ath-stèidheachadh le Fèisean nan Gàidheal bho chionn còig bliadhna le taic-airgid bho Bhòrd na Gàidhlig, Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean agus Alba Chruthachail, is bhon uair sin tha còrr is 70 cleasaiche òg air trèanadh fhaighinn ann an taghadh farsaing de sgilean dràma.

Tha Sgoil Shamhraidh na bliadhna sa a’ ruith an dràsta ann am Port Rìgh, agus mar as àbhaist don iomairt tha sgioba làidir de luchd-teagaisg ann a chumas an òigridh trang le bùthan-obrach is tachartasan eile. ‘S e Artair Donald a tha os cionn ghnothaichean am-bliadhna, ach ag obair gu dlùth leis tha an cleasaiche aithnichte Daibhidh Walker, Ruairidh MacNeacail bho Chùirt an Aodainn agus an neach-ciùil, seinneadair agus craobh-sgaoileadair, Màiri Anna NicUalraig.

‘S ann às gach ceàrnaidh den dùthaich a tha oileanaich 2012 – Uibhist, An t-Eilean Sgitheanach, Mòrar, An Gearasdan, Glaschu agus Dùn Èideann – agus ged a tha na rionnagan òga seo, a tha uile 14 gu 18 bliadhna dh’aois, air a bhith ag obair gu cruaidh gus faighinn deiseil airson na h-oidhche mu dheireadh, tha iad air a bhith an sàs ann an iomadach tachartas thairis air cola-deug eadar filmichean ullachadh, theatar sràide agus spòrs air a’ bhlàr a-muigh, uile air an lìbhrigeadh tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig.

Thuirt Art MacCarmaig, Ceannard Fèisean nan Gàidheal: “Tha dràma air leth cudromach airson cothroman a thoirt don òigridh a bhith a’ cur an cuid faireachdaidhean an cèill tron Ghàidhlig agus tha an Sgoil Shamhraidh Dhràma a’ toirt dhaibh cothrom a bhith a’ cleachdadh na Gàidhlig ann an raon farsaing de thachartasan. The sinn air soribheachadh bhon a chaidh an Sgoil Shamhraidh ath-stèidheachadh bho chionn còig bliadhna agus tha àireamh mòra de òganaich air sgilean ùra a thogail a ghabhadh an cur gu feum ann an iomadach suidheachadh agus tha sinn an dòchas gum bi e comasach dhuinn a chumail a’ dol le leasachadh na sgoile. Dh’obraich cùisean gu math an uiridh nuair a chruinnich luchd-ciùil Fèis Alba còmhla ris compàirtichean bhon Sgoil Shamhraidh agus tha sinn gu math toilichte a bhith a’ co-obrachadh le MG ALBA airson cead fhaighinn an goireas air leth a th’ aca ann an Stiùideo Fàs aig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig a chleachdadh aon uair eile.”

Airson barrachd fiosrachaidh mun Sgoil Shamhraidh, cuiribh fios gu Dougie Beck air 07900 001117. Gheibhear fiosrachadh mu thiogaidean bho Fhèisean nan Gàidheal air 01478 613355 no bidh iad rim faighinn aig an doras air an oidhche.

Source: Fèisean nan Gàidheal