Mach ann an Deich, a new non competitive Gaelic drama festival, was held in An Lanntair from the 12th - 17th March 2007. Mach ann an Deich, meaning Out in 10, was the first festival of its kind, and had the arts centre buzzing all week - from John Murray's opening talk on the future of Gaelic drama until the final two nights of brand new live performances.

The performances consisted of 14 original scripts which were submitted to An Lanntair at the end of 2006. The festival aimed to develop new writers, actors and audiences for Gaelic drama and saw professional and amateur writers of all ages writing, casting and directing their scripts. The only rule was that each of the plays was just 10 minutes long - subject matter, casting and setting were left entirely up to each writer resulting in a wide variety of topics and themes. There was no knowing what to expect next with a minister and a drunk sharing a night in the cell one moment (in Daibhidh Martin's "Am Ministead 's Am Misgear"), to a stray elephant interrupting a somewhat surreal Lewis tea party the next (in Finlay Macleod's "An Latha a Thàinig an t-Ailbean" (Pictured)).

A number of the plays were written and acted by children and young people, giving many their first experience of being on stage. 13 year old Eilidh Johnstone wrote and directed "Partaidh Granaidh" - which had the audience crying with laughter as Granny and friends enjoyed a rave style party. Mairi Ross, also 13, starred in "Partaidh Granaidh" and commented on the experience: "I really enjoyed it! It's great that children are getting a chance to do things like this. You couldn't see the audience but you could hear them laughing and I really enjoyed that. Being able to make people laugh really boosted my confidence and made me feel on top of the world!"

Although all the plays were in Gaelic there was definitely enough to keep non-Gaelic speakers and learners interested. A group of learners and teenagers with no Gaelic were even on the stage in a play called "Na Hearach Factor". There were non-Gaelic speakers in the audience too - Alastair Wight was visiting from Edinburgh and saw the plays even though he had no Gaelic. He commented, "Even though I'm not a Gaelic speaker the short plays had a lot to offer with great acting, and some spectacular sets - plus the format of 10 minutes kept me interested. Events like this are not necessarily just about knowing the language but about getting involved and seeing other cultures expressing themselves".

The festival was supported by GASD (Gaelic Arts Strategic Development) and Tosg.

Don't miss your chance to see Dr John Smith in his red long johns and all the other festival highlights as they are uploaded to the Internet over the coming weeks. For anyone who didn't get a chance to watch the live performances, some of the plays will be uploaded to Youtube over the coming weeks. One of the writers, Daibhidh Martin, has also been writing a myspace about the process and audiences can go there to watch videos of the play, as well as seeing audience comments and performance pictures. Go to www.myspace.com/lanntair

 

Gaelic Version

FÈIS DHRÀMA ÙR GHÀIDHLIG NA SOIRBHEACHADH AIR LETH DHAN LANNTAIR
Chaidh Mach ann an Deich, fèis dhràma ùr neo-fharpaiseach Ghàidhlig, a chumail san Lanntair bhon 12mh - 17mh Màrt. B' e Mach ann an Deich, a' chiad fhèis de seòrsa, agus bha an t-ionad ealain air ghoil fad na seachdaine - bho òraid fhosglaidh Iain Mhoirich mu na dh'fhaodadh a bhith ri thighinn a thaobh dràma na Gàidhlig, gun dà oidhche mu dheireadh de thaisbeanaidhean ùr nodha.

B' e 14 scriobtan ùra, a chaidh a chur a-steach dhan Lanntair aig deireadh 2006 a bh' anns na taisbeanaidhean. Bha an fhèis ag amas air brosnachadh a thoirt dha sgrìobhadairean, cleasaichean is luchd-èisteachd ùr a thaobh dràma Gàidhlig agus thàinig sgrìobhadairean proifeiseanta is neo-dhreuchdail gu bhith a' sgrìobhadh, a' suidheachadh dhreuchdan is a' stiùireadh an cuid scriobtan. B' e an t-aon riaghailt nach biodh gach dealbh-chluich ach 10 mionaidean a dh'fhaid - bha cuspair, dreuchdan is suidheachadh an urra ri gach sgrìobhadair fa leth agus dh'fhàg seo gun d' fhuair sinn raon farsaing de chuspairean is shuidheachaidhean. Cha robh fios dè dh'fhaodadh tachairt le ministear is misgear a' cur oidhche seachad còmhla sa phrìosan aon mhionaid (Am Ministead 's Am Misgear aig Daibhidh Màrtainn), gu ailbhean air seachran a' nochdadh aig pàrtaidh-tì os-fhìreachail Leòdhasach san ath fhear (san dealbh-chluich aig Fionnlagh MacLeòid, An Latha a Thàinig an t-Ailbean (san dealbh)).

Bha grunn de na dealbhan-cluich air an sgrìobhadh is air an taisbeanadh le clann is daoine òga, a' toirt dha mòran dhiubh an ciad eòlais air a bhith air stèids. Chòrd Pàrtaidh Granaidh le Eilidh NicIain gu mòr ri na h-uile agus bha an luchd-èisteachd a' sgàineadh le gàireachdainn a' faicinn Granaidh is a caraidean aig pàrtaidh rave. Bha Màiri Ros (13) às an Rubha na prìomh chleasaiche ann am Pàrtaidh Granaidh agus thuirt i: "Chòrd e rium gu mòr! Tha e math gu bheil clann a' faighinn a' chothroim rud mar seo a dhèanamh. Chan fhaiceadh tu an luchd-èisteachd ach chluinneadh tu iad a' gàireachdainn agus bha sin a' còrdadh rium. Thug e misneachd dhomh gum b' urrainn dhomh toirt air daoine a bhith a' gàireachdainn agus bha mi na mo ghlòraidh!"

Ged a bha na dealbhan-chluich uile sa Ghàidhlig bha gu leòr annta a chumadh aire dhaoine gun Ghàidhlig is luchd-ionnsachaidh. Bha eadhon buidheann de luchd-ionnsachaidh is deugairean air an stèids san dealbh-chluich, "Na Hearach Factor". Bha daoine gun Ghàidhlig san èisteachd cuideachd - Bha Alastair Wight a' tadhal bho Dhùn Èideann agus chunnaic e na dealbhan-cluich ged nach eil Gàidhlig aige. Thuirt e: "Ged nach eil Gàidhlig agam bha tòrr aig na dealbhan-cluich ri thabhann le fìor dheagh chleasachd agus suidheachaidhean a bha iongantach - agus chùm an cruth 10 mionaidean m' ùidh annta. Chan ann mu bhith fileanta sa chànan a tha tachartasan den t-seòrsa seo ach mu bhith a' dol an sàs agus a' faicinn cultaran eile gan cur fhèin an cèill."

Na caill cothrom air an Dr. Iain Mac a' Ghobhainn fhaicinn na dhrathars fhada dhearg agus nithean eile bhon fhèis nuair a nochdas iad air an eadarlìon sna seachdainean a tha ri thighinn. Airson neach sam bith nach d' fhuair an cothrom na taisbeanaidhean beò fhaicinn, bidh cuid de na dealbhan-cluich air Youtube sna seachdainean tha tighinn. Tha aon de na sgrìobhadairean, Daibhidh Màrtainn, cuideachd air a bhith a' sgrìobhadh myspace mun obair is faodaidh luchd-èisteachd a dhol an sin airson bhidiothan de na dealbhan-cluich fhaicinn, agus airson beachdan luchd-èisteachd agus dealbhan bho na taisbeanaidhean. Rach gu http://www.myspace.com/lanntair