Play tells of survival wartime sinking

Pupils in Lewis schools have the opportunity to see a powerful and poignant play about two children who survived a terrifying shipping disaster.

Written for a young audience, Nicola McCartney's Lifeboat production tells the extraordinary true story of fifteen year old girls, Bess Walder and Beth Cummings who spent 19 hours in the sea clinging to an upturned lifeboat wearing only pyjamas and dressing gowns.

Around 258 lives were lost when the SS City of Benares was torpedoed by a German U-boat and sank four days out of Liverpool during WW2.Only ten out of the 90 children onboard being evacuated to Canada survived.

It is a fantastic story of courage, survival and enduring friendship. This acclaimed production for children and young people has toured world-wide and was the first Scottish production to appear at the Sydney Opera House.

Lifeboat will be in Laxdale School with performances for pupils from Laxdale School, Uig School, Bernera School, Tong School, Sgoil nan Loch and Pairc School on Thursday.

The following day the show will be in the Stornoway Primary School for pupils from the school as well as from Sgoil an Taobh Siar and Shawbost School.

The performances by Theatre in Schools Scotland and Catherine Wheels Theatre Company are sponsored by The Scottish Salmon Company and supported by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.

Schools’ play recounts youngsters’ incredible survival in wartime sinking

18 February 2020