Bana-Ghaisgich/Heroines

In the very final production in the Finborough Theatre’s acclaimed GREATWAR100 series, a new play in Scottish Gaelic, presented by Theatre Gu Leòr, Bana-Ghaisgich/Heroines, will play for one performance only on Monday, 17 December 2018 at 7.30pm, prior to receiving its world premiere on the Isle of Lewis on the 27, 28 and 29 December 2018, as part of the 100th commemorative anniversary of the Iolaire disaster on the island.

1918. Oidhche Challainn a bheireas buaidh air Eliean Leòdhais gu sìorraidh bràth.

Tha ceudan de luchd-sheirbheise a’ tilleadh dhachaigh à bonn Shasainn gu ceann an Tuath-Siar de dh’ Alba, Eilean Leòdhais.

Ann an Caol Loch-Aillse, tha am bàta, an ‘Sheila’, a’ feitheamh riutha ach cha ghabh i an sluagh a tha a’ nochdadh ann. Le sin chaidh fios a chuir air an HMY Iolaire is sheòl i dhachaigh le 284 fir air bòrd, a mhòr chuid on Royal Naval Reserve.

Am fianais tìr, san crìdhe làn gàirdeachais, tha HMY Iolaire a’ dol air na creagan aithnichte, Biastan Thuilm, is a’ bathadh 201 dhiubh air an stairsneach fhèin. O chionn an Titanic, seo an tubaist-mhara a bu mhiosa a thachair, a thaobh soitheach Bhreatannaich, ann an àm-sìthe.

Seo dràma ùr a tha a’ togail air bròn, breitheanas agus daingneachd troimh shùil na mnathan ach ’s ann ri thighinn a tha an cruadal. Bidh amhrain agus ceòl beò an luib am pìos seo.

1918. A Hogmanay that shapes the future of the Isle of Lewis forever.

Hundreds of servicemen are returning home from the South of England to the North-West of Scotland, the Isle of Lewis. The ‘Sheila’ mail-boat cannot cope with all the men arriving in Kyle of Lochalsh so HMY Iolaire is deployed to help 284 men, mostly from the Royal Naval Reserve, make their final journey home.

Metres from land, their hearts rejoicing, HMY Iolaire veers off course and strikes the renowned rocks, Beasts of Holm, causing 201 men to drown on their own doorstep. This was the worst peacetime maritime disaster involving a British vessel, since the Titanic.

This new play explores grief, judgement and solidarity through the eyes of their women as their hardest challenge lies ahead. The performance will include live music and songs. The play is performed in Scottish Gaelic. A free programme with a short synopsis of the play in English will be available.