Barbara Dickson, is to take part in a Dunfermline premiere to mark the bicentenary of the discovery of the remains of Robert the Bruce.
Celebrations were launched last weekend to commemorate the astounding find amid the ruins of the Old Abbey 200 years ago.
A new play, featuring a cameo appearance by the West End star, recalls that time.
Written by local playwright Diane M Stewart and directed by Catherine Exposito, Bones, Bogles and Coronets is a theatrical reconstruction of the “tumultuous time” between the discovery of the grave and the laying of the foundation stone for the new Abbey Church just three weeks later.
Diane described her new work as a “theatrical reconstruction, with much poetic licence”.
“Complete with a variety of songs and musical interludes and based on the historic accounts of the time, the play tries to imagine the banter, gossip and excitement of those days, giving voice to the ordinary workers, women and children who witnessed the historic discovery and the aftermath in Dunfermline,” she said.
The play will also include some “haunting” appearances by a number of royal characters.
The production will be enhanced by musical input from Pittencrieff Primary pupils, the Abbey Choir of Dunfermline and musicians from Dunfermline Folk Club.
The Annals of Dunfermline records how news of the discovery of the royal grave, after 489 years, swept the country, stating: “Newspapers, magazines and fly-sheets gave full notices of the immortal hero-king and for months it was the all-absorbing talk.”
The play sweeps to its finale with a re-enactment of the 1818 ceremony of the laying of the foundation stone for the new Abbey Church, an event witnessed by an estimated 10,000 people and punctuated by rousing expressions of “patriotic enthusiasm” and “peals of loud and reiterated huzzas!”
As part of its bicentennial outreach to the wider community, the church is staging the play as an historic event, open to all at 7pm on Saturday March 10.
Tickets are now available, priced £15 for adults and £10 for children/concessions, from Sew, Yarn, Crafty in the High Street, Dunfermline Abbey before and after Sunday services, or via the Dunfermline Abbey website, https://dunfermlineabbey.com/wwp/.
Dickson speaks of love for local history
World-famous singer/songwriter Barbara Dickson has agreed to make a guest appearance at the end of the show.
She will lead what is sure to be an historic and atmospheric reprise of the community singing that took place on March 10 1818 of the famous Robert Burns’ song, Scots Wha Hae.
As she prepares to join the musical homage to The Bruce, Barbara said: “How exciting to be commemorating the discovery of the original tomb of King Robert at Dunfermline Abbey in 1818.
“I remember growing up and knowing that ‘a man had put a spade in the ground and hit a lead coffin with cloth of gold and chain mail inside’.
“Now, I am not sure if any of that is fact, but we all had that legend in our collective memory.
“I have always loved Dunfermline Abbey and as a keen amateur historian, I am fascinated with the story of my ancient home town.
“Nowadays, Dunfermline is much ignored and since the emphasis in Fife shifted to the east of our beloved city, people pass us by, but they should stop and breathe in the same air as the kings and saints we, as natives, love so much.”
