The “Beginning”

The Beginning

The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil is a play written by John McGrath that critiques the exploitation of the Scottish Highlands.
The play begins with a historical overview, starting from the Highland Clearances in the 18th Century up to the 1970s, using a series of episodic scenes.

From the beginning, it’s evident that the play doesn’t follow a traditional structure with a fixed set of characters. Instead, the story is told by a travelling troupe called the “7:84” company.
The actors use a form of theatrical storytelling known as Brechtian drama, which encourages audiences to critically engage with the social issues presented.
Characters are not depicted as individual personalities but represent groups of people or social classes.

Exploitation and Oppression: The play opens with scenes of crofters being evicted from their homes during the Highland Clearances, setting the theme of exploitation and oppression that is explored throughout the play.
Cultural Identity: It distinctly portrays the effects of economic exploitation on Scottish Highland culture and identity.

The play employs a variety of theatrical styles, including direct address to the audience, the use of Scots dialect, folk music and dance performances to narrate the story.
Despite the heavy subject matter, the play has a distinctive style that blends serious political critique with uproarious comedy.
The tone in the ‘beginning’ sets a precedent for the rest of the play, balancing stark criticism of social injustices with a palpable energy and humour.

The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil is an episodic play, not adhering to a linear narrative but instead showcasing various critical moments in Scottish history.
The ‘beginning’ doesn’t unfold a conventional plot; instead, it frames the play’s purpose, style, and themes.

The title itself is symbolic. ‘The Cheviot’ refers to the sheep introduced to the Highlands during the Clearances; ‘the Stag’ signifies the transformation of the Highlands into hunting grounds for the pleasure of the rich, and ‘the Black, Black Oil’ indicates the North Sea oil boom of the 1970s.
The play is rich in symbolism from its start, using these symbols to represent phases of exploitation of the Scottish Highlands.