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The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil

Part of English

  • The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil

    • Background

      John McGrath set up 7:84 Scotland to stage performances that would spur the audience into action. He conveyed socialist principles using elements of music hall, pantomime and Brechtian theatre.

    • Plot

      Comedic sketches, song, dance, and dramatic reconstructions are threaded together with facts and statistics to form a complex and emotive history of the Highlands.

    • Character

      The play features a cast of historical and fictional characters. The Highland folk are portrayed in a generally positive light, in contrast to the greedy, ignorant characters who exploit them.

    • Theme

      Ownership and wealth, change, and the role of women are central themes, as McGrath examines the systematic erosion of Highland identity and the continued exploitation of the land.

    • Setting

      The play covers Highland history over the period from 1746 to 1973. It moves from the aftermath of the Jacobite risings through to the early development of the North Sea oil industry.

    • Style

      The Highlanders use Gaelic in direct contrast with the Standard English of the ruling classes. Readings from factual sources shape the narrative. Symbolism helps express the central themes.

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