Door opens to success for Gaelic play

Not only will it be performed completely in Gaelic, but the process of developing it was done in Scotland's native language, too.

Writer Catriona Lexy Campbell explained why her play, Doras Dùinte, is helping to promote the Gaelic language in an accessible way.

"We've not had the exposure that English work has had but as time goes on, as more work is created in Gaelic, and as people become less scared to go and see a Gaelic show, the more we'll be able to contribute and the more we will be able to show the world," said Catriona.

"The play is adding creatively to the culture.

"It's a bit of an untapped wealth and there's so many places we could go with this language. There are lots of people doing things with Gaelic at the moment and I'm really proud to be part of that."

Doras Dùinte, meaning closed door, is the story of agoraphobic Lydia Ross who is forced to get a new lodger as she is struggling for cash.

At first Guthrie, the lodger seems like Lydia's salvation but it isn't long before things start to go awry and he is not what he seems.

The thriller aims to explore the idea of co-dependent relationships, and how far people will go to get their own way, but writer Catriona says she just wants the audience to enjoy it.

Catriona said: "For me it's always just about the story,"

"I want people to enjoy the story and I want to leave them with questions.

"I would like them to feel that it's something new and different. It's not trying to make any political point or anything but it is trying to create a modern, contemporary thriller that people will enjoy."

The non-Gaelic speaking members of the audience won't be left in the dark though, with specially-designed screens which will display subtitles throughout the performance.

Catriona said: "We're trying to be a bit creative."

"We're looking at translation but not your standard subtitles clunking along, telling you what everyone says.

"The subtitles are going to be animated and there will be two gauzes on either side of the stage showing the words as people speak.

"We're hoping that the way it is subtitled will reflect the modes of speech, so it is just going to be a different way of experiencing the language."

Featuring just two actors, and one setting, the play was perfect for Oran Mor's A Play, A Pie and A Pint and Catriona jumped at the chance when she found out organisers were searching for a Gaelic show,

"About a year and a half ago I was talking to Muireann Kelly, the director, and she mentioned that Oran Mor had been looking for a Gaelic play.

"The pieces that had been sent had too many different characters or there were a lot of different settings, or they were just too complicated for them.

"My play is just two people in one room - it was more manageable.

"We met with David from Oran Mor, showed him the script and he was happy with the idea."

Recently appointed writer in residence at Sabhal Mòr,a national centre for Gaelic culture and language. Catriona started out writing novels and turned her hand to acting after leaving University.

She became the first Gaelic Associate Artist with the National Theatre of Scotland in 2011 and one of her novels, Samhraidhean Diomhair, was also made into a radio play which was broadcast in December, last year.

Working in Gaelic is something that is important to the 30-year-old playwright, who is one of the 58,000 people in Scotland who can speak the language.

"For me it's pretty crucial for the play to be in Gaelic." described Catriona.

"It's my first language and it's where my voice is.

"When I sit down to write something, it feels more natural to write in Gaelic, so it's absolutely vital, creatively, to be able to do that."

Catriona's play, Doras Dùinte, will be showing at this week's A Play, A Pie and A Pint at Oran Mor until Saturday.

For more information, visit www.playpiepint.com

hannah.rodger@ eveningtimes.co.uk