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Honorary Fellow: Association For Scottish Literary Studies

“If we investigate only by physical and chemical means, we can only get physical and chemical answers.”

Sir Alister Hardy, FRS

The Rising

A 90-minute play commissioned and directed by Gordon Emslie, BBC Radio Scotland. Broadcast 1970.

Deals with the 1820 Insurrection in Scotland which ended in trials for Treason under English law. James Wilson was executed in Glasgow, John Baird and Andrew Hardie at Stirling Castle. All three were hanged and beheaded.

A blend of traditional and specially written songs was used to link scenes and advance the action. [The McCalmans folk group and singer Lesley Hale].

'..weaves folk music into the warp of historical detail.' Nithsdale Observer.

'..several telling scenes .. folk music merely impeded dramatic development.' The Scotsman.

This Radio script was later used as the basis of the Stage play of the same title, directed by Stephen MacDonald at Dundee Rep in 1973. The Radio version was re-broadcast by BBC Radio Scotland, 1980.