Dundee Rep Theatre announces the first professional Scottish tour for over twenty years of its critically-acclaimed production of John McGrath’s The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil , written by and directed by Joe Douglas, this autumn.
The iconic political play, written by renowned British playwright, director and political theorist John McGrath, who often took up the cause of Scottish independence in his plays, is widely considered to be a cornerstone of contemporary Scottish theatre. This production was a huge success at Dundee Rep Theatre in September 2015, garnering critical praise and smashing box office records and will once again be performed in Dundee from 31 August until 10 September before embarking on a Scottish tour until 22 October 2016 (details below).
The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil is considered one of Scotland’s first theatrical examples of docu-drama and verbatim story-telling with many of the issues and themes ringing as true today as they were back in the 1970s, such as the North Sea oil industry and the treatment of working people in the Highlands and Islands.
John McGrath was renowned for setting up the theatre company 7:84 Scotland in 1971, whose aim was to take popular, political theatre to the working classes performing in alternative venues throughout Scotland, England and Wales. The company’s title derived from a 1966 statistic that 7% of the population of Great Britain owned 84 % of the wealth andThe Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil is its most famous production.
McGrath famously embraced the techniques of Music Hall, Variety and the ceilidh to appeal to audiences across the social classes and the play’s influence has been felt by generations of theatre-makers in Scotland and beyond as well as drawing in new audiences through its unique story-telling.
Fringe Firsts winner and recently appointed Associate Artistic Director of Dundee Rep Theatre, Joe Douglas says, “Directing The Cheviot has never been anything but a terrifying honour. Dundee was jumping when we performed the play last year and we’re very excited to take the Ensemble out on the road. I’m delighted to have the opportunity to bring this vibrant production to a wider audience and see how the people of Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Inverness and Glasgow uniquely respond to it.
McGrath’s philosophy was that the audience must have ‘a good night out’ and that’s something that we aim to ignite across the country.”
Tour Info is as follows:
Dundee Rep Theatre, Tay Square, Dundee, Dundee City DD1 1PB
Dates: 31 August -10 September
Times: Evenings at 7.30pm / Matinees 8, 10 September at 2.30pm
Previews: 31 August & 1 September
Ticket Price: £9 - £21
Booking Details: 01382 223530 or via the website at www.dundeerep.co.uk
The Royal Lyceum Theatre, Grindlay Street, Edinburgh EH3 9AX
Dates: 14 – 24 September, 2016
Times: Evenings at 7.30pm / Matinees 15, 17, 21, 24 September at 2pm
Accessible Performances: Captioning Description 17 September (matinee) / Audio Description & Touch Tour 17 (matinee), 22 September. BSL TBC
Ticket Price: £10 – £30.50
Booking Details: 0131 248 4848 or via the website at www.lyceum.org.uk
His Majesty’s Theatre, Rosemount Viaduct, Aberdeen AB25 1GL
Dates: 4 – 6 October
Times: check website for details
Accessible Performances: all performances wheelchair accessible, check website for details
Ticket Price: check website for details
Booking Details: 01224 641122 or via the website at www.aberdeenperformingarts.com
Eden Court Theatre, Bishops Rd, Inverness IV3 5SA
Dates: 11 – 15 October
Times: Evenings 7.30pm / Matinees 13, 15 October 2.30pm
Accessible Performances: BSL Interpreted Performance, check website for details
Ticket Price: from £15 - £25 (check website for reduced rates)
Booking Details: 01463 234 234 or via the website at www.eden-court.co.uk
Citizens Theatre, 119 Gorbals St, Glasgow G5 9DS
Dates: 18 – 22 October
Times: Evenings 7.30pm / Matinees 19, 22 October 2.30pm
Ticket Price: £12.50 – £22.50
Booking Details: will go on sale in March 2016 - check website for details www.citz.co.uk