‘An Ceoldráma’ (The Musical), the new four part documentary series will begin on TG4 on Sunday January 12 at 8pm. It follows four Gaelscoils to reveal what it takes to get a school musical on stage in one of the toughest categories of the Féile Scoildrámaíochta (The All-Ireland Schools’ Drama Competition).
The behind the scenes documentary, filmed and directed by Colm Bairéad (Lorg nag Cos, An tÁdh), paints an intimate picture of the micro-society of an all-Gaeilge primary school and highlights what has become a rite-of-passage for thousands of pupils across the country. Produced by Cleona Ní Chrualaoi (Lorg nag Cos, The Gathering: Homeward Bound), ‘An Ceoldráma’ features an eclectic mix of candid classroom and rehearsal footage from schools in each province; Gaelscoil Ultain in Monaghan, Gaelscoil Charraig Uí Leighin in Carrigaline, Cork, Scoil Lorcáin in Monkstown, Co. Dublin and Scoil Náisiúnta Cholmcille in Connemara, Galway.
The TG4 series was filmed between January-May 2013 in locations in Dublin, Monaghan, Galway, Donegal, Cork and Westmeath.
Produced by Insceal, ‘An Ceoldráma’ was edited by John Murphy (Showrunners, Bliain in Arainn Mhor) in Lotus Media, graded by Rory Gavin and sound mixed by James Daly in Reelgood.
Inspired by documentaries such as ‘Spellbound’ and ‘Etre et Avoir’, ‘An Ceoldráma’ follows a select group of characters outside of school hours and pieces together the source material of these young personalities, as they each dream of a place in the competition’s final in Mullingar, which celebrate its 80th anniversary this year.
‘An Ceoldráma’ airs on TG4 every Sunday night at 8pm for four weeks from January 12th with two repeats.
The trailer for the series can be viewed here
