THE CHEVIOT, THE STAG AND THE BLACK, BLACK OIL Written by John McGrath
DIRECTOR’S NOTE
I believe that witnessing The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil can inspire genuine, lasting change. What John McGrath and his extraordinary young ensemble achieved in 1973 has had a lasting impact, on generations of Scottish theatre artists and on the country at large. The message spread far and wide – not only through the broadcast on the BBC’s Play for Today but through the hard work and dedication of their packed touring schedule. The mother of Calum MacDonald, our Gaelic performer, vividly remembers watching original cast member Dolina Maclennan sing the songs of her people in her own language in her school hall at the Nicholson Institute in Stornaway. 45 years on, her son plays an integral role in this revival. The time for this play to speak once again and help shift the consciousness has arrived. Our script updates reframe the debate to include the most pressing emergency facing us all, the Climate Emergency that was recently declared by the Scottish Government.
Unfettered capitalism cannot save us and we must now find a new way to live for the survival of our species. This play nudges us towards the right direction. ‘The people must own the land.’
Joe Douglas Director The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil Artistic Director of Live Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne
The Cheviot, The Stag and the Black, Black Oil was given its first public airing at the ‘What Kind of Scotland?’ conference in Edinburgh on 31 March 1973, and first performed in Aberdeen at the Arts Centre, then throughout the seven crofting counties and many places in the south of Scotland. This tour is presented by National Theatre of Scotland in association with Dundee Rep Theatre and Live Theatre, Newcastle and based on the 2014 production by Dundee Rep Theatre.
PERFORMERS
JOHN MCGRATH
Stephen Bangs Jo Freer Christina Gordon Reuben Joseph Calum MacDonald Billy Mack Alasdair Macrae
CREATIVE TEAM John McGrath Writer Joe Douglas Director Graham McLaren Designer MJ McCarthy Composer and Sound Designer Alasdair Macrae Musical Director Kate Bonney Lighting Designer Jo Rush Associate Director Calum Paterson Associate Sound Designer Laura Donnelly, CDG Casting Director Ros Steen Voice Director
PRODUCTION TEAM Ali Low Mickey Graham Jon Meggat Calum Paterson Emma Clifton Rebecca Clark Kirsty Glover
Production Manager Company Stage Manager Technical Stage Manager Technical Stage Manager Costume Supervisor Touring Front of House Manager Scenic Artist
ACCESS Catherine King Performance Interpreter (BSL) Amanda Drollinge Audio Describer Sheena Guz Audio Describer Janette Knibb Audio Describer Alison Pendlowski Captioner A list of the National Theatre of Scotland staff involved in this and all productions can be found here: nationaltheatrescotland.com/about/contact-us
WITH THANKS TO: Cait Irvine, Lana Pheutan and Katie James. If you would like to give us feedback on the show, please email us at: feedback@nationaltheatrescotland.com COPYRIGHT 2019 NATIONAL THEATRE OF SCOTLAND. The National Theatre of Scotland, a company limited by guarantee and registered in Scotland (SC234270), is a registered Scottish charity (SCO33377). Photography byTommy Ga Ken Wan.
John McGrath was born in Merseyside, 1935, of an Irish immigrant family and brought up in North Wales. His first plays were performed when he was at Oxford. After THE TENT was presented at the Royal Court, John spent several years in television, writing and directing. He directed the first episode of Z-CARS, which ran for seventeen years. Much of his writing and directing in television was experimental and he made many documentaries on film and video. He wrote over forty stage plays and in 1971 he founded the 7:84 Theatre Company (so called because John had read that 84% of Britain’s wealth was owned by just 7% of the population), which he led for seventeen years.
ABOUT NATIONAL THEATRE OF SCOTLAND National Theatre of Scotland is a Theatre Without Walls. We don’t have our own building. Instead, we bring theatre to you. From the biggest stages to the smallest community halls, we showcase Scottish culture at home and around the world. We have performed in airports and tower blocks, submarines and swimming pools, telling stories in ways you have never seen before. We want to bring the joy of theatre to everyone. Since we were founded in 2006, we have produced hundreds of shows and toured all over the world. We strive to amplify the voices that need to be heard, tell the stories that need to be told and take work to wherever audiences are to be found. Jackie Wylie Artistic Director and Chief Executive Seona Reid DBE Chair For the latest information on all our activities, visit us online at nationaltheatrescotland.com or follow us on:
#CHEVIOT SUPPORT NATIONAL THEATRE OF SCOTLAND Did you know the National Theatre of Scotland is a registered charity? To do what we do, we need your support! There are many ways to support and be part of our work creating vital, dynamic theatre. Join us and help us achieve our ambition. To learn more, please visit:To learn more, please visit: nationaltheatrescotland.com/support To speak to us about the opportunities available, contact: Adam McDougall, Development Manager T: 0141 221 0970 E: adam.mcdougall@nationaltheatrescotland.com If you would like to give us feedback on the show, please email us at: feedback@nationaltheatrescotland.com National Theatre of Scotland is core funded by