The Stewart Milne Group, one of the UK's leading house builders, is backing a new work by local author Jack Webster to bring his new play, The Life of Grassic Gibbon, to stage.

Produced by His Majesty's Theatre, the play tells the story of J Leslie Mitchell – otherwise known as the illustrious Scots novelist Lewis Grassic Gibbon - from his early years in Auchterless and Arbuthnot through to his later life in Welwyn Garden in Hertfordshire.

A recital of the play, starring Vivien Heilbron and Michael McKenzie, can be seen at His Majesty's Theatre in Aberdeen on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 25 and 26.

Mitchell was a prolific author both in his own right and using his pseudonym, producing 17 books on subjects as diverse as archaeology and exploration.

However, it is under his pseudonym of Grassic Gibbon that he is best known and for his trilogy A Scots Quair – Sunset Song, Cloud Howe and Grey Granite.

Sunset Song was voted the most popular Scottish Novel of all time in 2006 and an adaptation of the trilogy was a huge success on BBC TV in the 1970s starring Vivien Heilbron in the central role of Chris Guthrie.

A production of Sunset Song will be produced at His Majesty's Theatre in September this year and will then be toured to theatres around Scotland.

This production maps out Mitchell's life and tells of his school years, his struggle for recognition, through his productive and successful years in his 20s, to his early death aged just 34.

The recitals are at 7.30pm on both the Tuesday and Wednesday and tickets are available online at www.boxofficeaberdeen.com, by phoning 01224 641122 or by visiting Aberdeen Box Office at the Music Hall in Union Street or HMT Box Office in Rosemount Viaduct between 9.30am and 6pm Monday to Saturday (8pm on performance nights).