Frost-class talent from NCL
There will be a New College Lanarkshire (NCL) reunion on stage at the Lanternhouse Theatre in Cumbernauld this weekend, with every cast member of a new musical production being a former college student.
Milly Sweeney is the lead role in The Little Iceberg, a children’s musical about an iceberg who is very cold and lonely out on the sea by herself – who then goes on to become friends with a little bird that teaches her about kindness and compassion. “It’s a beautiful metaphor for friendship, talking about your feelings, and letting people in,” Milly explains.
She has also won the St Andrews Playwriting Award in 2024 and Best Writer in The Stage Debut Awards 2025 both for her first professional play Water Colour.
Milly had also written The Caravel and The Big Day – and her ever growing reputation has drawn praise from Scottish screen legend Alan Cumming, said: “Milly Sweeney is a great new Scottish voice. Her Stage Debut award is just another example of the promise and a great future she has.”
Her early success helped open doors in her career, including her latest production Someone’s Knockin’ at the Door, staring Jonathan Watson (Only An Excuse) and premiering at the world famous A Play, A Pie, and A Pint series. “It’s loosely inspired by a true story my grandparents tell at every family gathering,” she says. “About the time they were in their early 20s and set out on a mission to find Paul McCartney’s house on a moped. It’s about their relationship and Scotland in the 70s.”
Milly Sweeney grew up in Glasgow and found her time at NCL invaluable. “As far as performing arts education goes, it’s maybe the best you can get at college level. It’s an accessible route into the industry compared to drama schools or conservatories."
The director of the production also has an NCL connection, Siobhan Smith, who originally taught at Cumbernauld College before the merger that formed New College Lanarkshire was there ‘there for 21 years in total'.
She went on: “The young actors I’ve worked with at NCL, have always had such strong foundations. The College really gives them space to try different things, enhance their skills, and find their voice.”
The Little Iceberg performed at Lanternhouse Theatre, Cumbernauld, March 6 and March 7, 2026 showings at 10:00 and 18:00. You can buy tickets here.
