LAS is there to help Gaelic artists take a step forward with a new theatre project. With the support of our team, and a budget for expenses, artists spend time developing an idea for a new theatre piece.The scheme is open to different forms and styles of project – from a new script, children’s work, music for theatre, dance and more – as long as it is aimed at a live audience at the end.
In 2025 we added Lasag to this development scheme, for earlier stage ideas, which may not be quite ready for Las. It gives them a small budget to do some research or consideration to take their idea forward.
It is important that artists are given the opportunity to try new things, play with ideas and work out what might happen with them. Maybe you will even see these projects on stage one day.
Deadline for applications: 10am, Thursday 15th January 2026
Artists
The Las scheme is currently supporting:
David Walker – The Sound of Iron Research and writing about the true story of Màiri, who came to work in Glasgow driving cranes during the Second World War.
Robbie MacLeod – Hinba The next stage of development to rewrite a play about an island that has emerged among the Outer Hebrides due to climate change.
Angus MacLeod – Annag Christie A new version of Eugene O’Neill’s play, moving the drama from the Ame
Through the Lasag scheme we are supporting:
Catriona Murray Research for a new play about the New York Highlands in the 1920s.
Rhiannon Ledwell Development of a performance that weaves together Gaelic music, stories and songs from India.
Martin O’Connor & Chloe Shimmin Development for workshops with primary school children in Glasgow and the Isle of Man, to build connections between the two communities.
Artists and projects that have previously received support from the Las scheme:
Calum MacLeod A new theatre piece based on the story of the Megantic Outlaw, but told through the eyes of a female bounty hunter.
Déirdre Ní Mhathúna – Tairm fo Sgàil Playing with drama, sound, poetry and video to bring the voices of Gaelic women singers to life for a modern audience.
DS Murray To expand on a play about the life and death of Donald MacKinnon, who was captain of the clipper ‘Taeping’.
Martin MacIntyre – Bampot Joe A new play about Joe, his bilingualism and how he comes to terms with his differences in each language.
Kat Siebert A play set in a future where Gaelic is the main language of Scotland. The story explores issues of immigration and identity.
Ceangal Cwlwm (Connection) is a network bringing together those involved in theatre-making in Scottish Gaelic, Irish and Welsh.
It was established in 2019 by Theatre Gu Leòr and supported by Marianne Kennedy of University of Galway, with Lisa Lewis from University of South Wales and Danielle Nic Pháidín of Ealaín na Gaeltachta joining the steering group in 2020.
The network regularly hosts gatherings, both in person and online, of artists, academics, funders and development organisations with the aim of making connections, sharing best-practice and learning from each other, in order to strengthen the Scottish Gaelic, Irish and Welsh language theatre sectors.
Strabang! is the National Gaelic Youth Theatre – an exciting opportunity for young people from across the country to join a drama group through a series of Gaelic drama workshops in theatres across Scotland.
From September to March, participants come together to learn about all aspects of theatre, explore different parts of Scotland, and create and perform a play together.
“It was amazing to make new friends and to have the chance to speak Gaelic to them.”
Participant 2023-2024
WHAT’S NEW THIS YEAR?
Strabang is growing!
For the first time, we’ll have dedicated groups in both the Western Isles and Skye, and the mainland, running parallel workshops in each area before coming together for a long weekend in February, followed by a joint performance in March.
“Friends, rehearsals, gossiping in Gaelic and speaking Gaelic in a fun way.”
Participant 2023-2024
WHO CAN TAKE PART?
Applications are open to all S1–S4 students in Gaelic Medium Education or with fluent Gaelic.
From these applications, 16 students, 8 from each region, will be selected to take part.
WHAT’S INVOLVED?
The programme runs over 6 months, giving participants the chance to:
Learn about drama through the medium of Gaelic
Build confidence and communication skills in drama
Take part in four residential sessions – with travel, overnight stays, and time spent collaborating in person and exploring the area!
Join online sessions and learn in master classes with Theatre practitioners
Work towards a live performance in a professional theatre
WHY JOIN STRABANG?
This unique opportunity gives younger high school students the opportunity to be part of a national Gaelic youth theatre company, no matter where they live, and develop transferable skills for a range of professions.
Participants will:
Meet new people and build lasting friendships
Collaborate creatively using Gaelic
Develop a stronger sense of connection between language and professional opportunity
As part of the programme, one weekend will bring the entire group together to work in the Gaelic community in Kilmore, Skye, staying at Whitewave and rehearsing at Kilmuir Community Hall.
Each year’s experience is shaped by the group’s own learning, creativity, and interests.
COSTS AND SUPPORT
All travel, accommodation and food expenses will be paid by Theatre Gu Leòr, with funding support from Bòrd na Gàidhlig.
By Eva O’ Connor, Mairi Morrison, and Mared Llywelyn Williams
Presented by Theatre Gu Leor, Fishamble and Theatr Bara Caw
‘Taigh’ in Gaelic, ‘Tŷ’ in Welsh and ‘Teach’ in Irish. The same meaning in three languages: ‘House’. The centre of our world, it’s a place for family, for gathering, for music. A place for mourning and for celebration.
Three houses, three communities and three stories unfolding, each reflecting the challenges shared by the three countries and the people at the heart of them.
Performed in each of the three countries in Gaelic, Irish and Welsh with English subtitles.
Cast & Creative Team
Honi Cooke Martha Dunlea Richard Elfyn Siôn Emyr Mirain Fflur Màiri Morrison Eoin Ó Dubhghaill Sam James Smith Elspeth Turner
Director – Muireann Kelly Writers – Màiri Morrison, Eva O’Connor & Mared Llywelyn Williams Dramaturg – Pamela McQueen Set & Costume Design – Becky Minto Lighting & AV Designer – Ceri James Musical Director – Hilary Brooks Sound Designer – Berwyn Morris-Jones Associate Director – Betsan Lloyd Associate Set & Costume Designer – Fraser Lappine
Creative Scotland, Bòrd na Gàidhlig Arts Council Culture Ireland, Siamsa Tíre Foras na Gaeilge British Irish Chamber of Commerce British Council Ireland Scottish Government in Ireland Welsh Government in Ireland Arts Council of Wales Gwynedd Council Shared Prosperity Fund
First developed with support from Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru. With special thanks to everyone at Grinneabhat.
Quebec, 1888. A snowstorm traps five people in a remote saloon. One of them is a bounty hunter, another, the most wanted man in Canada.
To some, Donald Morrison, the Megantic Outlaw, was one of the most notorious villains of his day, but to the close-knit community of Gaelic migrants from Lewis, he was one of their own. Hot on his heels is badass Barra woman, Màiri MacNeil – a whisky-fuelled, pistol-slinging, bounty hunter. She has history and a score to settle.
Ceilidhs meet Colt .45s in this wild Gaelic Western.
★★★★★ “ A fierce piece of work that riots its way through the western genre ”
Màiri MacNeil – Elspeth Turner Uilleamina Bouchard nee Morrison – MJ Deans Jean Baptiste Bouchard – Sam James Smith Major Malcolm MacAuley – Daibhidh Walker Donald Morrison – Dòl Eoin McKinnon
Director – Muireann Kelly Writer – Calum L. MacLeòid Dramaturg – Lynda Radley Set Design – Becky Minto Costume Design – Becky Minto & Vicki Brown Costume Supervisors – Vicki Brown & Morna Macleod Lighting Design – Emma Jones Sound Design – Matt Padden Fiddle/Feet percussion – Arthur Coates Fight & Movement Director – EmmaClaire Brigthlyn BSL Interpretation – Catherine King Design Placement – Catherine Tinney
Production Manager – Elle Taylor Company Stage Manager – Ali Biggs Deputy Stage Manager – Katharina Siebert Technical Stage Manager – Craig McNeill Re-lighter – Josh Brown
Company Co-ordinator – Rhona Dougall Production Assistant – Josie Campbell PR – Storytelling PR Marketing Consultant – Jane Hamilton Production Photography – Mihaela Bodlovic Lead Image – Laurence Winram
Supported By
Bòrd na Gàidhlig Creative Scotland Initially developed through a Gaelic Playwriting Award from Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland, in association with Comhairle nan Leabhraichean
Cora is back in the island, at Granny-ferries house, her favourite place in the world. Poor hedgehog needs some help but what can Cora do for her?
With songs, fun and a little bit of help from Phaella, what could go wrong?
A Gaelic play with puppets for children aged 4-7
Cast & Creative Team
Ava MacKinnon Katie Hammond Kit Rodman-Orr
Director – Muireann Kelly Puppets – Ella MacKay, Nudge Puppets Set and costume design – Alice Watson Support with puppets – Stacey Mitchell
Tour Dates
16/08/22 – Edinburgh Book Festival 22/08/22 – Stornoway LIbrary Goodlyburn Primary, Perth Sgoil na Coille Nuaidh, Kilmarnock Bun-sgoil Taobh na Pàirce, Edinburgh Shabost School, Lewis Sgoil an Taobh Siar, Lewis Uig Primary, Lewis Breasclete School, Lewis Loch Primary, Lewis Sgoil an Rubha, Lewis Tounge Primary School, Lewis Back Primary, Lewis Leverhume Memorial School, Harris Sir E Scott Primary School, Harris Sgoil Uibhist a Tuath, North Uist Balivanich Primary, Benbecula Iochdar Primary, South Uist Dalibrugh Primary, South Uist Castlebay Community School, Barra
A series of four stand alone radio dramas by four Gaelic voices with something to say: Elspeth Turner, Iain MacRàth, Màrtainn Mac an t-Saoir and Martin O’Connor.
Danns a’ Rathaid
By Elspeth Turner
Anna lives alone, rarely speaking to anyone else, until something happens that forces her to strike up a friendship with a woman to whom she has a far closer connection that she initially thought. This a melancholy story about the struggle of a young dancer in London in the 1950s weaves together different themes such as the desire to move on, ancestry, and separation, through this unexpected connection, and the beautiful music of Swan Lake.
Cast: Elspeth Turner and Màiri Morrison
Panalof
By Iain MacRae
Many academics have debated where the Lewis Chessmen came from. This comedy, set in the National Museum, considers not only where they came from, but where they are going. As soon as the lights go off, the chessmen escape, and nobody except the two pawns know what they’ve got planned. There’s only one problem – there’s no sign of the rest of the chessmen, and without anyone to give them permission to move, how will they make their way home?
Cast: Iain MacRae and Daibhidh Walker.
Rùintean Màiri Iain Mhòir
By Martin MacIntyre
Though Covid-19 has turned everyone’s world upside down, leaving us uneasy and unsettled, we try and keep our spirits up by looking forward to a time when all this is over. But what impact has this lockdown had on our dead? This is a play about hope, loss, and love, set in the Western Isles, and with music that make the Uist landscape – and the dead! – come to life.
Cast: Mairi Morrison and Calum MacDonald
Èirigh
By Martin O’ Connor
Èirigh explores the effect that climate chance could have on a small Scottish island, and on the life of one man as he tries to make a difference and save his family from the rising sea. Many of the things Martin O’Connor often explores in his work – masculinity, faith, monologue, comedy – feature in this new short radio play.
Cast: Daibhidh Walker
Cast & Creative Team
Director – Muireann Kelly Sound Designer and Editor – Matt Padden Music – Pàdruig Moireasdan Harp – Malachy Arnold Dramaturgy – Lynda Radley, Iain Finlay MacLeod, Oliver Emanuel and Catrìona Lexy Campbell Studio Producer – Catriona Mhoireach Sound Engineer – Sara Mattinson Producer – Annella NicLeòid Assistant Commissioner – Calum McConnell Co-ordinator – Rhona NicDhùghaill
MAIM, meaning panic in Gàidhlig, is a call to action, giving voice to the frustrations of the next generation who care deeply about the crisis facing their land and language.
This unique collaboration between Theatre Gu Leòr and the band WHɎTE was inspired by exquisite tracks from their latest album, Tairm, and will feature live music, dance, spoken word and video.
★★★★ “ An unforgettable combination of song, imagery and movement; delivered by four fine performers ”
The Scotsman
★★★★ “A fascinating live collage of music, word and movement….a bubbling hybrid that is part elegy, part call to arms ”
The Herald
★★★★ “ A unique hybrid that works its spell slowly, exerting an increasingly powerful pull… the show’s accumulative effect is startling ”
Elspeth Turner Evie Waddell Alasdair C. Whyte Ross Whyte
Director – Muireann Kelly Writers – Alasdair C. Whyte, with script contributions from Elspeth Turner, Evie Waddell and Ross Whyte Composer & Sound Designer – Ross Whyte Choreographer – Jessica Kennedy Rehearsal Movement Assistant – Chrissie Ardill Designer – Jen McGinley Assistant Designer – Alice NicBhatair AV Designer – Lewis Den Hertog Lighting Designer – Benny Goodman Integrated BSL Interpretation – Evie Waddell BSL translation and Evie’s Mentor – Catherine King Creative Learning Artist – Lana Pheutan
Production Manager/CSM – Elle Taylor Deputy Stage Manager – Katharina Siebert Technical Stage Manager – Craig McNeill
Company Co-ordinator – Rhona Dougall PR – Mim Black, Story Telling PR Marketing – Lindsay Hammond, Yellow Bird Digital Marketing Placement – Josie Campbell Student Placement – Faolan Jean Graphic Design – Alice NicBhatair Lead Image – Laurence Winram l winram.com Production Photography – Mihaela Bodlovic
A collaborative project with the band WHYTE.
Tour Dates
06/03/20 – 14/03/20 – Tron Theatre, Glasgow
Following our opening and week’s run at the Tron Theatre, in Glasgow, sadly the rest of the national tour had to be postponed due to covid-19 and Lockdown restrictions.
Gàidhlig