WATCH: The Pioneers Experience brings history of The Macallan to life on Speyside stage
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THE rich history of distilling at The Macallan has been brought to life again through drama and storytelling on one of the most natural stages an actor could ever wish to perform on.
In 2021 the Speyside distillery engaged the services of a scriptwriter and professional actors as society began to emerge from Covid lockdowns and outdoor activities were safer.
The Pioneers Experience has been revived for 2022 and Scotland's Year of Storytelling.
Five actors – Mark Kydd, David Rankine, Stephanie Falls, Steve Hay and Ross Allan – bring the story to life with scenes dotted across the beautiful gardens, and including the banks of the River Spey.
Throughout the summer, a cast of five actors will perform two shows a day on Saturday and Sunday.
The demand was so high in anticipation of the live theatre that the show was almost sold out before it was launched.
Their stage is the Elchies estate where The Macallan single malt whisky is produced.
Visitors are taken on a tour of the distillery and its grounds, which charts the origins of the brand which has become a worldwide best seller.
Debora Weston had originally delivered tour guide training to the team at The Macallan, giving them tops and support in telling the story, and then pitched the idea of bringing the story to life through a dramatic presentation.
Stuart Cassells, general manager of The Macallan, said: "It's a really different and nice way to tell the story of The Macallan. We have areally fascinating story, as do many Scotich whisky distilleries.
"Our story is rooted in our home here at The Macallan estate, at the centre of Speyside and we have an opportunity to bring that story to life in a way that is memorable, very engaging and hopefully resonates with people.
"The brand is about to celebrate 200 years in two years time and it was the culmination of a lot of work to pull that story together and telling the story of our forefathers and the people who have left us this great legacy we are now able to enjoy.
"We ran this last year and because of Covid we wanted to do something that was outside, but because of the Year of Storytelling we had to do this again.
"We had something that worked last year and we wanted to do it again. The actors are fantastic. We auditioned and casted professional actors who play roles on some of our best known television programmes that Scotland produces, and they deliver it very well, with polish, finesse and experience."
A new character this year is Janet Harbinson, who brought the business back to life over two decades between the two World Wars.
She was the daughter of Roderick Kemp, who had bought the distillery in 1892.
Mark Kydd, said: "It was brand new last year and we didn't know how it was going to go, but it went very well and we are delighted to be back doing it again this summer."
"Janet Harbinson is featured so prominently this year. All of the characters are important and interesting, but it is great that she is much to the fore.
"I do quite a lot of promenade stuff which involves moving around and the great thing about that is the close interaction with the audience.
"Normally on stage there is a separation and you don't have that here. You are looking into people's eyes. The intimacy is lovely.
"That is always the challenge with history is to present it in a way that is entertaining. You want the facts and information to be there, but I think what Deborah has done brilliantly is find characters who are interesting and fun to play and really engaging for an audience to watch."
Mark's uncle used to work in customs and excise so he knew Speyside as a place to come on holiday but wasn't fully aware of the history of The Macallan.
"I knew about the distilleries but I didn't really know much about The Macallan so this has been an education, learning about the processes and the scale of everything.
"We are in lovely surroundings, we are staying on site at the Ghillie's House and we have been very well looked after."
"We rehearsed in Glasgow at the Edrington building and Debora told us about the estate but I don't think any of us had been here since it was reopened.
The distillery's history dates back to 1824 when schoolteacher and barley farmer Alexander Reid founded it.
The 485 acre estate provides a stunning backdrop for the story, written by Debora Weston – whose credits include Patriot Games and Charlie and the Chccolate Factory.
Captain John Grant – played by Elgin actor David Rankine – built The Macallan’s spiritual home, Easter Elchies House, in the early 18th Century.
The original name of the area was “Maghellan”, taken from the Gaelic word “magh”, meaning fertile ground and “Ellan”, from the Monk St.Fillan - who held a close association with the church that stood in the grounds of The Macallan Estate until 1400.
A new distillery was designed and built on the site, opening in May 2018 after a three and a half year construction period and at a cost of £140 million, and with the creation of 60 new jobs.
