No Mean Company

The Cheviot, The Stag And The Black, Black Oil

Written by John McGrath


October 1998


Party time for Cast Off

Cumbernauld News

Expect a party atmosphere when Cast Off launch a new production of “The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil” this week.

The amateur company’s community production marks the 25th anniversary of John McGrath’s hugely popular Scottish play.

The show, running from tomorrow (Thursday) to Saturday at Cumbernauld Theatre, brings together some of the area’s finest amateur talent, including members of No Mean Co and Cumbernauld Youth Theatre.

It also boasts live music from Ceilidh band The Govan Spoonful, who will lead a ceilidh at the end of the show.

“The cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil” is being directed by Owen Costello and Evelyn Wallace, and produced by David Mair.

Said David; “There’s going to be a real party atmosphere. There’s something for everyone in this show – it’s like the history of Scotland done as a pantomime.”

The show is an often comic look at Scotland’s history in th story and song, from the Highland Clearances to the present day.

“It’s very over the top, so it’s been great fun to do,” said David. “There are loads of different characters, and it’s all very fast moving.”

“The original production was done at the old cottage theatre so we thought it would be a nice idea to put it on to mark the 25th anniversary.”

The show begins at 7.45 pm each night. Tickets cost £5 or £2.50 for concessions.

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McGrath play still powerful

Cumbernauld News

After 25 years, John McGrath’s riveting play “The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil”, is still as powerful today as it was when first written – as Cast Off proved at Cumbernauld Theatre.

The story of the cruelty and savagery of the highland Clearances and the subsequent exploitation of the area still has the power to make people angry today – but though the tale was told in a gripping manner, there were lighthearted moments, musc and dance too – a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Good audiences over three nights testify to that.

Political theatre it obviously was – but then it was edealing with an emotive subject. It looked at who really controlled Scotland’s wealth, compared the Highlanders with other exploited peoples like the Red Indians and made people think about the less glorious side of imperial expansion last century.

Producer David mair and director Owen Costello also took part in the show. David as the notoious James Loch, Owen as the even more infamous Patrick Sellar.

Other lead roles went to Charles Friell as a pro-landlord minister, lamenting the “idleness” of the Highlanders, the the judge at Sellar’s trial ( he was acquitted); MaureenAlexander as the patronising Harriet Beecher Stow (an admirer of the Duke of Sutherland!); and Jo Grant as Lady Phosphate of Runcorn, who was hilarious, if somehat menacing, in a scene with Lord Crask (David Mair) in which they asserted their rights as the new ruling class.

Everyone can take credit for a thought provoking show.

Review by John McIlvean