DRAMA GROUP ON MARATHON TOUR OF GAELIC SCHOOLS

16th February 2008

A new play - Fògarraich na Grèine (The Sun Refugees) - to be performed to Gaelic pupils

Meanbh-chuileag, Fèisean nan Gàidheal's theatre-in-education group, is on the road just now with an exciting new interactive play that will be visiting almost every Gaelic-medium school in Scotland over the next few weeks in a marathon tour funded by Highlands & Islands Enterprise and The Highland Council with financial assistance from Bòrd na Gàidhlig.

The play is aimed at years 4 to 7 in the primary school, although it is also suitable for younger children.

Fògarraich na Grèine (The Sun Refugees) was written by Seònaid MacDonald and focuses on important aspects of the future of our planet. Is it our lifestyle that is bringing about these changes? Or is it a natural occurrence? Difficult questions, but with help from the main characters, Daibhidh and Uilleam, the audience tell the Professor how it really is!

We also hear from other characters, including Winfred, a young Inuit from Alaska who tells us about the changes he has seen over the years. We find out about solar power and wave power, about greenhouse gasses and polar bears. Finally, it's up to the audience to choose how best to stop the waves from rising ...

In addition to the play itself, pupils also receive a workshop which expands on some of the most important themes of the play.

There are two actors involved in the show: Darren MacLean (Skye); and Daibhidh Byrne (Inverness). The play was directed by Malcolm Munro and Dougie Beck, with assistance from Roddy Nicolson (Out of Eden). Between 4 February and 20 March, the team will be visiting almost 60 Gaelic-medium primary schools, in every area of Scotland.

According to Dougie Beck, Meanbh-chuileag Project Officer: "We feel that it is incredibly important that young people in Gaelic-medium Education get the opportunity to see and take part in plays like this in their own schools; we are dealing with an extremely important subject here - a subject that touches us all."

"Fèisean nan Gàidheal has been involved more and more in the development of Gaelic drama," says Fèisean nan Gàidheal Chief Executive, Arthur Cormack. "We are extremely happy that it has been possible for us to support, over the last few years, the only Gaelic drama company which is working in the formal education sector. Projects like this, where children in Gaelic schools hear Gaelic in an informal, fun way, are sorely needed. This service should be an integral part of Gaelic-medium education, and more opportunities like this tour should be happening among other much-needed Gaelic drama developments at community and professional levels."
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[Gaelic version]

BUIDHEANN DRÀMA AIR CHUAIRT MHÒR SNA SGOILTEAN GHÀIDHLIG
Dealbh-chluich ùr - Fògarraich na Grèine - gu bhith air fhaicinn le sgoilearan Gàidhlig

Tha Meanbh-chuileag, a' bhuidheann-dràma aig Fèisean nan Gàidheal, air an rathad an-dràsta le dealbh-chluich ùr beòthail a bhios a' tadhal air cha mhòr gach sgoil Ghàidhlig air feadh na dùthcha thairis air na seachdainean a tha romhainn.

Tha an dealbh-chluiche ag amas air clasaichean 4 gu 7 sa bhun-sgoil Ghàidhlig, ach tha e cuideachd freagarrach do chloinn nas òige.

Tha Fògarraich na Grèine, a chaidh a sgrìobhadh le Seònaid NicDhòmhnaill, a' togail chuspairean cudromach agus inntinneach mu shlàinte na Cruinne. An e ar dòigh-beatha a tha ag adhbhrachadh nan atharrachaidhean seo? No an e rud nàdarra a th' ann? Ceistean duilich, ach le taic bho na prìomh charactaran, Daibhidh agus Uilleam, cuiridh an luchd-èisteachd an t-Ollamh ceart!

Cluinnidh sinn cuideachd bho charactaran eile, leithid Winfred, Inuit òg à Alasga, a dh'innseas dhuinn mu na h-atharrachaidhean a chunnaic e thàr nam bliadhnaichean. Gheibh sinn a-mach mu dheidhinn cumhachd na grèine agus cumhachd nan tonnan, mu ghasaichean greenhouse agus mu mhathain-gheala. Mu dheireadh, 's ann an urra ris an luchd-èisteachd fhèin a tha e taghadh a dhèanamh air dè bu chòir dèanamh airson stad a chur air èiridh nan tonnan...

A thuilleadh air an dealbh-chluich fhèin, gheibh na sgoilearan bùth-obrach a bhios a' togail air cuid de na puingean as cudromaiche.

Tha dithis chleasaiche san dealbh-chluich: Darren Macilleathain (An t-Eilean Sgitheanach), agus Daibhidh Byrne (Inbhir Nis). Chaidh an dealbh-chluich a stiùireadh le Calum Rothach agus Dougie Beck, le taic bho Ruairidh MacNeacail (À Eden). Eadar 4 Geàrran agus 20 Màrt, bidh na balaich a' tadhal air cha mhòr 60 bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig, anns gach ceàrnaidh de dh'Alba. Gheibhear clàr-ama airson na cuairte aig deireadh a' bhratha seo.

Mar a thuirt Dougie Beck, Oifigear Pròiseict Meanbh-chuileag: "Tha sinn a' faireachdainn gu bheil e air leth cudromach gum faigh sgoilearan òga ann am foghlam tro mheadhan nan Gàidhlig cothrom dealbhan-cluiche a leithid seo fhaicinn sna sgoiltean aca fhein; tha sinn a' dèiligeadh le cuspair anabarrach cudromach an seo - cuspair a tha a' bualadh oirnn uile."

Thuirt Ceannard Fèisean nan Gàidheal, Art MacCarmaig; "Tha Fèisean nan Gàidheal air a bhith an-sàs barrachd is barrachd ann an leasachaidhean dràma na Gàidhlig, agus tha sinn air leth toilichte gu bheil e air a bhith comasach dhuinn taic a chumail dhan aon chompanaidh dràma Gàidhlig a tha ag obair ann am foghlam thairis air na beagan bhliadhnaichean a dh'fhalbh. Tha cruaidh fheum air an t-seòrsa obrach a tha seo far a bheil clann anns na sgoiltean Ghàidhlig a' cluinntinn na Gàidhlig ann an dòigh neo-fhoirmeil, spòrsail. Bu chòir dhan t-seirbheis seo a bhith na pàirt gu math cudromach de dh'fhoghlam tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig agus bu chòir barrachd den leithid a bhith a' tachairt a-measg leasachaidhean eile air a bheil feum ann an saoghal dràma na Gàidhlig aig ìre coimhearsnachd agus ìre proifeiseanta."

Chaidh a' chuairt seo a mhaoineachadh le Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean agus Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd le taic-airgid bho Bhòrd na Gàidhlig.

www.feisean.org/