Nicolson pupils triumph in Dileab: Leverhulme production
A performance took place on Wednesday May 15, at An Lanntair, Stornoway, to a sold-out audience.
The Dìleab: Leverhulme production was the third in four performances taking place in 2024 and this time featured pupils from the Nicolson Institute.
The production saw more than 40 Gaelic medium pupils take to the stage, many of whom had been involved last year in the rural primary schools as part of Dìleab: Metagama.
The script was written by Angus MacLennan and Coinneach Mòr MacIver and they also featured as narrators on the evening, as well as engaging with pupils in the historical and storytelling elements in the run-up to the production.
Evelyn Coull MacLeod, from the education department of the comhairle, said: “The sheer number of pupils wanting to get involved in the Nicolson production is incredibly heartening, and a testament to the amount of work which has been undertaken since the start of the year by our strong and talented team, who have been delivering inputs to our schools.
“It was particularly encouraging to see so many secondary pupils showing an active interest in our culture and history and the Dìleab project strives to give opportunities to pupils to develop a wide range of skills.
“I would like to thank the staff and pupils of the school for their enthusiasm and hard work – it truly was a pleasure to work with them in bringing this to fruition.”
Lindsey Mackenzie, Gaelic teacher in the Nicolson Institute, who has been instrumental in the delivery of the Nicolson production, added: “It is amazing to see what the pupils have accomplished in a very short space of time.
“They have worked tirelessly and have been a credit to the school and to themselves throughout this process. It is great to be able to include inputs like Dìleab in our curriculum and I am certain that the pupils have thoroughly enjoyed and benefited from this experience.”