something to say 2023
New Gaelic radio drama
Theatre Gu Leòr, in partnership with BBC Radio nan Gàidheal, has awarded two commissions to Gaelic writers for new Gaelic radio drama.
After the success of that first Rudeigin ri Ràdh/Something to Say radio drama initiative in 2020/21, the Gaelic theatre company is now building on this by commission two new series, with four 15 minute episodes in each series. Both series will be broadcast in 2023.
spins by laura maclennan and tormod macleòid
Two young writers from Lewis, Laura MacLennan and Tormod MacLeod, will be developing an exciting script entitled ‘SPINS’, about young people on the island.
nighean an dorsair le elspeth turner
Elspeth Turner, who wrote last year’s Danns a’ Rathaid, which was nominated for a Torc Award at the Celtic Media Festival, will also be developing a new script, ‘Nighean an Dorsair’, based on a dark but true story from the 60s.
the writers
laura maclennan
Laura is from Barvas in Lewis and has been writing professionally for six years. She got her first writing opportunity on Bannan, where she learned with Young Films and wrote, as part of a team, most of the episodes. Over the years, she has taken part in various writing courses at the NFTS and Theatre Gu Leòr, as well as Robert McKee’s renowned course Story Seminar. Since then, she has been writing with Tormod MacLeòid.
tormod macleòid
Tormod is from Carloway in Lewis. He has been working in the media as an actor/writer/director since he graduated from Sabhal Mòr Ostaig in 2017 with a First Class degree in Gaelic Media. He was part of the Young Films Foundation’s first intake in 2018 and has been a writer on the last two series’ of the TV show Bannan (2014-2021). Tormod was also an actor in the comedy series FUNC (2018-2019) which won RTS Scotland’s comedy award.
Elspeth turner
Elspeth Turner is originally from Fife. An actor and writer, she creates contemporary theatre and film in English and Gaelic. After studying dance in London and theatre at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, she began her career in America before returning to Scotland in 2011. Since then, she has worked with a variety of companies acorss the UK, including the Nationa Theatre of Scotland, Theatre Gu Leòr, sruth-mara, Eastern Angles, The Traverse and Òran Mòr.
Elspeth can currently be seen in new feature film Riptide – a schizophrenia love story from Lyre Productions. Elspeth’s plays include The Idiot at the Wall (2012), SpectreTown (2015), and Savage Nation (2021) – which deals with the legacy of the Gaels in North America. She recently wrote and directed short film Marram, which was shot in Berneray, Harris and in Edinburgh.
Elspeth is the recipient of playwriting awards from The Peggy Ramsay Foundation, Playwrights Studio Scotland, and the Tom McGrath Trust.
In partnership with BBC Radio nan Gàidheal. Supported by Creative Scotland and Bòrd na Gàidhlig.