It’s Seachdain na Gàidhlig (World Gaelic Week)—a special time to celebrate the Scottish Gaelic language. From community initiatives to school projects and cultural celebrations, there’s so much going on this week to bring Gaelic into the spotlight. At Visible Fictions, we’re thrilled to be part of the conversation, and this year, we want to share something close to our hearts: Gaspard’s Foxtrot.

What’s Gaspard’s Foxtrot?

Gaspard’s Foxtrot was a concert experience for school children that brought the much-loved children’s book character  Gaspard the Fox to life. Based on the book by Zeb Soanes and illustrated by James Mayhew, the animated concert film is set to an enchanting musical score by composer Jonathan Dove. 

Created as part of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra’s (RSNO) National Schools Concert Programme, and in collaboration with the Scottish Book Trust and Refuweegee, this production captivated over 96,000 primary school pupils across Scotland to date.  

Gaspard Goes Gaelic

With the help of  MEG funding, Gaspard’s Foxtrot was brought to life in Gaelic, and working alongside the brilliant team at RSNO and the talented Kathleen NicAonghais —who narrated the Gaelic version—we were able to introduce Gaspard’s adventures to 505 Gaelic learners and speakers across 20 schools. We worked with wonderful partners like Bord na Gàidhlig, Stòrlann, and Theatre Gu Leòr to spread the word about the Gaelic version of the film. 

So, here’s to Gaspard, to Gaelic, and to the magic of storytelling for young hearts everywhere.

Gaspard On YouTube