Fèisean nan Gàidheal’s formal education service, Fèisgoil, is delighted to announce that Hùb Hàb, its much-loved theatre-in-education project for Early Years pupils, is back out on tour from Tuesday 24th of February, celebrating World Gaelic Week 2026. This year’s brand-new show is all about getting young Gaelic-medium pupils ready for brighter, warmer days ahead.
Hùb Hàb air an Tràigh (Hùb Hàb at the Beach) dives into the wonders waiting by the seaside, from spotting seabirds and sea creatures to fishing, rowing a boat, and even swimming! Along the way, children will discover how to stay safe while having buckets of fun.
At the heart of every tour is the larger-than-life character Hùb Hàb, created by Fèisean nan Gàidheal. Over the years, Hùb Hàb has captured pupils’ imaginations in shows covering topics such as gardening, baking, a wee walk, circus skills, and last year’s Highland games extravaganza, Hùb Hàb: Latha Mòr nan Geamaichean Gàidhealach.
This time around the role is played by Sinead Swann, who joined Fèisgoil for the first time this year as a Blasad Gàidhlig tutor in the north Highlands. She said: “I’m really looking forward to getting the tour underway in Drumnadrochit and sharing Hùb Hàb’s fun seaside activities with the schools, especially with pupils from my old school Craighill primary in my hometown of Tain.”
The performance will tour Highland schools this year, where more than 140 pupils across 8 schools and nurseries in the area will have the chance to pick up and reinforce new vocabulary in a way that is interactive, action-packed and fun whilst learning new and traditional Gaelic songs which are easy to pick up.
But there’s a salty sea-dog twist! Hùb Hàb will also introduce a brand-new character – fisherman Captain Mac an Leòbaig (Captain MacFlatfish), who arrives arrr-med with a catchy, clever song all about the seaside code. He has three golden rules to keep everyone shipshape on the shore: be wise, be kind, be safe!
The ditty, written especially for the performance by Fèisean nan Gàidheal’s Drama Officer Aonghas Macleod, will be introduced alongside well-known traditional Gaelic songs relating to the sea such as Bàta Sheumais, and Fergus Munro has arranged and recorded a catchy jingle to accompany Hùb Hàb based on Runrig’s well-known song, Air an Tràigh.
Angus Macleod, who wrote and directed the play, said: “With the experience Sinead has gained from working with infants in Gaelic Medium Education and her singing and acting talents, she is ideal for the job of bringing Hùb Hàb’s trip to the seaside to life and I’m sure she and the pupils will have lots of fun with all the activities Hùb Hàb has in store for them.”
Fèisean nan Gàidheal is grateful to its regular funders Bòrd na Gàidhlig and Creative Scotland for their support in getting these drama tours on the road.
For more information about Hùb Hàb and our drama work in schools, contact Drama Officer Angus MacLeod on angus@feisean.scot.
