Scotland’s
forgotten
bloodiest
battle is
brought
back to life
I
N APRIL, QMU STUDENTS joined forces with local drama groups to commemorate
Scotland’s near forgotten ‘Battle of Pinkie Cleugh’.
The battle between the Scots and English at
Pinkie in Musselburgh is thought to be one of
the bloodiest ever to take place on Scottish
soil. However, although local historians know
that 10,000 Scots died, most people are
completely unaware of this tragic historical
event which took place in 1547.
The play, titled the ‘Battle of Pinkie Cleugh’
unveiled an important time in Scots history
known as ‘The Rough Wooing of Mary, Queen
of Scots’. It highlighted a period when Henry
VIII demanded the hand of the infant Queen
Mary, for his son, Edward. However, the battle
ensued a s King Henry’s request was denied.
QMU Community Drama students joined
forces with local interest groups to put on the
play at the Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh.
Students on the Costume Design and
Construction degree created stunning period
costumes and QMU student playwright, Rory
Edrington, developed the script.
Three different community groups made up
the cast – The Brunton Players, The Brunton
Senior Youth Theatre and the Prestongrange
Players.
Irvine Allan, Lecturer in Drama and
Performance at QMU, worked with Lesley
Smith, East Lothian Council’s Principal Arts
Officer, and local interest groups to produce
the new play. He said: “The River Esk ran
red with the blood of both Scots and English
solders, but yet most people know little or
nothing about this fascinating event.
“This project was a real eye-opener. Our
playwright researched and wrote the play in
association with the Pinkie Cleugh Battlefield
Group advisers, so we made great efforts to
ensure historical accuracy.”
English war ships, as well as Spanish and
Italian mercenaries, joined the English land
forces to take Musselburgh, and seize East
Lothian. The aim was to force the Scots
into the marriage of the infant Queen Mary
to Edward. The resistance led to a vicious
battle with heavy casualties, mostly borne by
the Scots, who were defeated on the day.
Irvine Allan continued: “The play was
a stunning linguistic, visual and musical
commemoration of the event. Our students
were really proud to be involved in such an
interesting collaborative project which brought
an important period of history to the attention
of a wider public.”
Councillor Tim Day, Cabinet Spokesperson
for Community Wellbeing, East Lothian
Council, said: “This project gave our local
community drama groups the opportunity to
work with QMU students to bring a significant
period of Scottish history to life through the
medium of theatre.”
In September 2013, The Pinkie Cleugh
Battlefield Group will launch ‘The Battlefield
Trail’, the route of which will encompass the
key sites of the battle. It is hoped that the area
will develop as a visitor attraction. ❒
QMYOU / Community Engagement
7