Garridge Theatre / Mitchell School of Drama

Directed by Rhona Mitchell

The Hill That Was a Home tells the story of the Bennachie Colonists – the 19th Century landless who carved out a living on the slopes of the Bennachie hill, in the North East of Scotland, before being forced out when landowners took over their properties.

The article in The National newspaper (11th June 2023), is as follows:

New play is a celebration of Scottish history and language

THEY scratched a living on the side of a hill before being forced away by the “rapacious greed” of the gentry but now the hard lives of the Bennachie Colonists are being remembered in a new production.

Written by award-winning author and playwright Alan Bissett, The Hill That Was A Home tells the story of the 19th-century landless who carved out a living on the slopes of the ­Aberdeenshire hill, before being evicted when landowners took over their properties.

Performed in English and Doric by a cast of 16 young people who live in and around Inverurie, the play is a celebration of local history and ­language.

“The story of the Bennachie ­Colonists was a new one for me, but it’s clearly an important one to many people in [the] northeast of Scotland and I love nothing more than bringing ­local, historical stories – which might not have reached national attention – to life in a way that makes them ­engaging for a modern audience,” said Bissett.

“I have tried to convey the sweep of the colonists’ lives – their ­presence on the hill spanned over 100 years, after all – showing their struggles to maintain their freedom and way of life in the face of rapacious greed from landowners.

“I can’t wait for Aberdeenshire audiences to see the colonists come back to life for an hour and a half to tell their fascinating story.”

The tale encompasses the ­arrival of the settlers in the early 19th ­century right through to the “last man ­standing”, George Esson, who died alone on Bennachie during the ­build-up to the Second World War.

“We have tried to show the ­colonists’ lives as accurately as we can while using humour, music and a bit of dramatic licence here and there, and end on an uplifting note,” said Bissett. “Even if the colony is now gone, it does not have to be ­forgotten.”

The play was commissioned by The Bailies of Bennachie as part of their 50th-anniversary celebrations.

Their chair, Peter Stock, said: “The story of the Bennachie ­Colonists has been brought to light over the last few decades by efforts of the Bailies. ­Excavation of their homes and ­research into family history has thrown new light into this important and dramatic episode of local history and we are delighted to partner with Alan Bissett and Rhona Mitchell to tell this story in a different way to a new audience.”

The production is directed by ­experienced theatre-maker Rhona Mitchell with musical direction by Alisdair Sneden. Many of the cast are part of the Mitchell School of Drama.

Mitchell said the production was “ambitious and exciting”.

“It has been great finding out about the colonists from members of the Bailies and working with Alan ­Bissett to bring the tale to the stage,” she said. “The young cast are ­enjoying finding ways to bring the story to life and do justice to the lives of the ­Bennachie Colonists and we hope audiences are going to respond really well to this drama with music.”