Private Agenda

The 7:84 Theatre Company are about to reach the climax of a highly successful tour across Scotland with their play “Private Agenda”. They close shortly with a week in Edinburgh. And I have commended their efforts to a number of pals who live there.

As a political, campaigning theatre group it is unlikely that their efforts will meet with universal approval.

In the 1970s they first made their name with “The Stag, The Cheviot and the Black, Black Oil”, a play about the bonanza off our shores. With oil prices now hovering around the $50 a barrel level, one could be forgiven for imagining that the good times were about to roll for Scotland again.

But the contrast with Norway could not be starker. Sharing North Sea oil fields across our boundary with them, Scotland has done so much less – and had so much less opportunity – to make good use of a once in a lifetime find for our country.

With their own government, the Norwegians have made sure that much of the oil wealth has been invested in ensuring prosperity “after oil”.

Without a government of our own we have, by contrast, seen our oil wealth squandered on propping up the feckless spending plans of successive London regimes. And the result? Little permanent change to our infrastructure. Over the very long term, no real benefit.

This was the ironic and pessimistic message that 7:84 brought to stages across Scotland 30 years ago – and they were correct.

So their present play on this government’s use of the Private Finance Initiative – PFI – deserves equally close attention. Because we shall see the effects of today’s policies on a similar time-scale – thirty years.

I have to say that 7:84’s play about PFI did not immediately sound like a recipe for an evening’s fun-filled entertainment. But first readings can be misleading.

After my watching – and participating in – their performances in Paisley and Fraserburgh, I can report a lively re-invigorated company engaging in a serious subject in an interesting, engaging and entertaining way.

Because when you tell the story of “ordinary people” – but then the most interesting and “extraordinary” people generally turn out to be “ordinary people” – you find humour and mordant comment in abundance.

The 7:84 play “Private Agenda” has the four actors speak the words of people affected by PFI. Hospital workers forced into organisational structures that actually prevent them being able to help patients directly – schools denied their books because PFI bills had not been paid – and Skye Bridge Toll campaigners being charged with two further offences each time they went (non-paying) across their bridge to appear in Dingwall Sheriff Court.

But it is more than a play. The second half has the cast, artistic director & writer Lorenzo Mele and various politicians, on stage to discuss the play with the audience. At a time when the public does not turn out for political meetings, I have found my two “performances” stimulating, and the public’s ability to express their reaction to a political topic greatly heartening.

Political supporters and opponents of PFI have had their opportunity to be on stage, albeit that Labour MPs and MSPs seem to have been very reluctant to appear before the public.

With a parliamentary motion commending 7:84’s efforts, there is support for their efforts among politicians. Perhaps this will be the way to re-engage the public in political debate.

But it appears that the Scottish Arts Council, whose support has been important in allowing the play to tour small towns across Scotland, may be having cold feet.

I will certainly be supporting such ventures in future – although I cannot know whether I will find all as politically compatible with my views as this one.

Big Money

This week has seen the budget announcement for Scotland. Following a lack-lustre launch by First Minster Jack McConnell of his program for government, this was an opportunity to put flesh on the bones. They failed by the reckoning of the media – no flair, no new ideas.

On the face of it there was a large increase in transport spending. But all but the Aberdeen City Bypass – “announced” for the umpteenth time – were on central belt projects.

At long last we heard something of a national free transport pass for pensioners – we thought we were to get that last time and didn’t – but it turned out to cover buses and not railways or ferries. For people living on islands, no improvement at all.

All further evidence that the government simply does not have people who understand rural concerns.

But hidden away seemed to be further spending on building and improving prison facilities but this is coupled with cuts on the money spent on preventing re-offending.

Confusion but some hopes as well.