UP TO 40 people spent three days filming a socially distant commemoration of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s birth and a 275-year-old battle.

An evening of music and storytelling was due to be celebrated in a concert at Prestongrange Church as part of a weekend of events to mark the anniversary of the Battle of Prestonpans.

Now it is being hosted as a watch party online after the battle trust filmed performances in the church and on the battlefield to create a ‘virtual’ concert.

This year’s commemoration also marks the 300th anniversary of the birth of Bonnie Prince Charlie, who led the Jacobites to their biggest success against Government troops in the battle.

A programme of events held on the battle anniversary weekend between September 19 and 21 has been altered to allow for Covid-19 restrictions.

The planned concert will stream over the internet on the evening it was planned, September 19.

The trust obtained special permission from the Church of Scotland to film in the planned venue of Prestongrange Church ahead of the concert.

A spokesperson said: “The three days of filming was a really interesting experience because, of course, everyone had to socially distance (even the choir) and Arran [Johnston], who plays the prince in re-enactments, had to choreograph 40 local participants in readings, costumed drama, musical recitals and singing.

“The church had to be fully cleaned in between every act and, of course, everyone had to provide contact details for tracing purposes – quite a feat with only two weeks’ notice.

“It was a particularly interesting experience for the singers, who had the strange experience of singing to an empty room coupled with the joy of being able to sing in church once again.

“Arran managed to secure filming of a socially distanced pipe band (on the battlefield), fiddle players and a chorus of Redcoat soldiers.”

The finished result, Beneath the Thorntree, seeks to tell the story of the people who lived in the local area in 1745, as the battle took place on their doorstep.