The dynamic drama, which sold out both of its previous New York engagements, will play St. Ann's through May 8. Black Watch is authored by Gregory Burke, directed by John Tiffany and has choreography by Tony Award nominee Steven Hoggett (American Idiot). Tiffany and Hoggett are also collaborating on the Broadway musical Once, based on the 2006 Academy Award-winning film.
Black Watch first premiered at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2006 at the University of Edinburgh Drill Hall. In 2007 the production played to audiences in Los Angeles, Pitlochry, Aberdeen, Dumfries, Dingwall, Glasgow and Edinburgh. It has continued to tour the U.S. following a European encore engagement, making stops in Washingon, DC; Austin, TX; and Chicago, IL.
Created from personal testimonies of Scotland's legendary army regiment, the ten-member docudrama incorporates military drills, song, video and historical sequences to reveal an up-close account of the Iraq war. Black Watch necessitates a large playing area in order to represent an esplanade, with the audience seated on either side of the action.
Here's how Black Watch is characterized by National Theatre of Scotland: "Hurtling from a pool room in Fife to an armored wagon in Iraq, Black Watch is based on interviews conducted by Gregory Burke with former soldiers who served in Iraq. Viewed through the eyes of those on the ground, Black Watch reveals what it means to be part of the legendary Scottish regiment, what it means to be part of the war on terror and what it means to make the journey home again. [Director] John Tiffany's production makes powerful and inventive use of movement, music and song to create a visceral, complex and urgent piece of theatre."
The ensemble cast includes Ross Anderson, Cameron Barnes, Scott Fletcher, Jack Lowden, Adam McNamara, Stuart Martin, Ian Pirie, Jamie Quinn, Richard Rankin, Chris Starkie and Paul Tinto. The production has now played to over 113,000 people across three continents and has garnered over 22 awards. Most recently the production won four Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Director, Best Theatre Choreography, Best Play and Best Sound Design. The company won its first U.S. award with the New York Drama Critics Circle naming Black Watch Best Foreign Play.
The creative team includes associate director of music Davey Anderson, set designer Laura Hopkins, costume designer Jessica Brettle, lighting designer Colin Grenfell, sound designer Gareth Fry, video designers Leo Warner and Mark Grimmer for Fifty Nine Productions Ltd.
Phone (718) 254-8779 or visit artsatstanns.org.
St. Ann's Warehouse is located at 38 Water Street (between Main and Dock St.) in Brooklyn, New York.
