Writing about The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil ("Why nationalism alone is not enough in a global economy", The Herald, September 21) David Torrance states that the SNP "tried to hijack the play by asking for a performance at its annual conference.” The SNP did ask 7.84 to perform the play at their Oban Conference in 1973. The company did perform the play, suitably recompensed I would think, since even Internationalist Young Socialists have to eat, and it was very enthusiastically received
I recounted in my Conference Report for the Scots Independent my conversation with Billy Wolfe: “How can they put on a play like that and then say they are not nationalists?” I asked. Billy replied: “If we knew the answer to that we would sweep Scotland tomorrow.”
Jim Lynch,
42 Corstorphine Hill,
Edinburgh.
David Torrance traduces Dundee Rep's revival of The Cheviot, The Stag and The Black, Black Oil.
Far from not mentioning "the UK Government's investment in the infrastructure essential for the growth of the North Sea oil industry",
there is a wickedly funny sketch on precisely that topic sung by Emily Winter as Lord Polwarth (then Tory minister for infrastructure).
Lord Polwarth was also Governor of The Bank of Scotland and married to Jean Cunningham-Graham (niece of one of the founders of both the SNP and the Labour party). As to the politics of the original production, the best guide is perhaps the essay by John McGrath Scotland Up Against It which can be found buried deep in The Red Paper on Scotland, 1975 (edited by a future Prime Minister).
Neil Robertson,
4 Glamis Terrace, Dundee.
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