‘The Highway Rat’ speaks Cornish
Beloved children’s tale gets a Kernewek makeover,promoting language revitalization.
A popular animated film, based on a book by the author of The Gruffalo, has been re-released with a Cornish language dub, aiming to introduce young audiences to Kernewek in an engaging way.
cornish Language Revival
Originally a BBC1 Christmas special in 2017,The highway Rat,adapted from Julia Donaldson‘s picture book,has been reimagined through a collaboration between Screen Cornwall and Magic Light Pictures.
According to a 2021 census, 575 people in England and Wales reported using Cornish as their main language, while thousands more have some proficiency (ONS 2023).
Director’s Delight
Edward Rowe, the director of the Cornish version and an actor in the film, expressed his enthusiasm for the project. He noted that it was “realy wonderful”
that children could learn about Kernewek through the animation.
Rowe, who has also appeared in Netflix’s The Witcher and the BAFTA-winning film Bait, considered it an “honour”
to collaborate with a “talented”
Cornish cast and crew, describing the experience as “really, really good fun.”
promoting Kernewek Through Animation
Laura Giles, from Screen Cornwall, emphasized the importance of providing content in Kernewek that children already enjoy.She stated: “We know it’s really meaningful to see content that they know and love in Kernewek.”
She further added,“It’s a real pleasure to bring Cornish acting and voice talent to animation of that high quality.”
Original Cast and Crew
The original English version of The Highway Rat featured the voices of David Tennant, Rob Brydon, and Nina Sosanya. The 25-minute special has been celebrated for its faithful adaptation of Donaldson‘s beloved story.
