1514 The Musical

I could not believe that it is 10 years since this production depicting how the banner so proudly displayed every year at the Common Riding in Hawick was captured. The original show, in 2014, was a Community Production written by two local worthies, Ian Landles and Alan Brydon, to commemorate the 500th Anniversary of the event and was the catalyst to the beginnings of ACT1 Youth Theatre.

Since then, Act 1 have gone from strength to strength and it was great to see this show back on stage, with a fresh cast as everyone is now 10 years older.

This production starts in Hawick with the townsfolk all being in a happy place enjoying the peace that life in the Borders brings and we enjoyed the ensemble opening with “Life is Grand” where there is friendly banter between the townsfolk at the washing green and in the town square. The young lads of the town “the Callants” play at being soldiers and discuss who they will be when they grow up “A Reiver I will Be”. However, there is an undercurrent of concern as there are rumours that the King is going to call an army together to fight off the threat of an English invasion, and Mary Tinlin excellently played and sung by Rachel Inglis hopes that is all it is – a rumour. In the town the local worthy Gibbie the Grunt bemoans everything and he doesn’t have a good word for anything. He was played excellently by John Nicol, as he gets teased by the townsfolk especially the children over his incessant complaining.

However the rumours keep getting heard and the towns Elders visit Arabella, who professes a different and older religion and is met in the Oak Forest, where she expounds her wisdom on what she sees in the future “Living by the Oak trees”. This part was played very hauntingly by Anne Clark.

Rumours become facts and the King makes a call to arms and the men of Hawick rally together and march off to war to the resounding tune of “Hawick my Border Hame”.

For those who don’t know, The Battle of Flodden was a disaster for Scotland. The King, James IV, and the majority of the nobility of Scotland along with the majority of the able-bodied menfolk died that day. The men of Hawick were no exception and the Second Act begins with the Haunting “One Call of a King”, - (I can still feel the hairs on my neck bristle when writing this). (If this song got a wider audience, I would think it would become a national favourite.) – where the ghosts of those killed come back to recount what happened at the battle.

We then return to Hawick to be faced with the aftermath when the menfolk will not be returning and how they will manage without them, Hope Stewarts “Now Fither’s Gane” was haunting. Life goes on and the threat of raiding parties is never far away. When one is discovered “Here come the Raiders”, not far away, the townsfolk have to decide whether to run to the hills or will they stand and fight. The youth of the town, the callets, decide they will take on these Raiders and put together a plan to give them a taste of their own medicine. “Oo Ernie Gane ti Rin and Hide” The townsfolk of Hawick bid them a tearful farewell to the young lads with “Safe Oot, Safe In” and the womenfolk are fearful of their return in “Return from Hornshole”

The Callets are successful in their raid and capture the reivers banner and proudly return to Hawick “Hawick Ma Border Hame”, to present it to the town and happiness returns.

The townsfolk all get together to celebrate the return of the Callets, and we hear “Life is Grand” sung by Robbie (Lyle Murray) and Jeannie (Hope Stewart) along with the townsfolk celebrating with “The Jiggered Return”

And that is why every year since then the Blue and Gold Banner is paraded round the streets to commemorate 1514.

The first time I saw this show I cannot say how much I enjoyed the production and the second time around now I am no different. I have mentioned a few of the cast who played and sung some individual numbers and it would be impossible to details the names of everyone else who all deserve plaudits. Everyone who was on stage gave their all and it was evident that it was a joy to be on the stage re-enacting this historical tale that means so much to the town of Hawick.

A very well done to the whole team who put this together and who gave the audience such an amazing enjoyable evening.

Thanks, you Act 1 and I look forward to coming to Hawick again to see another production.

 

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