Spotlight on Black Watch

Black Watch, the landmark production from the National Theatre of Scotland (NTS), is one of the most successful pieces of theatre Scotland has ever produced. It is also one of its greatest cultural exports of recent years.

Since it was first staged in 2006, the play has been seen by over 113,000 people around the world, won 22 international honours, and has celebrity fans including Sir Sean Connery, Hugh Jackman and the Coen Brothers.

The production has crossed the Atlantic for its third tour of the USA and has already played to packed theatres in Washington, North Carolina and Texas.

It will visit Chicago between 29 March and 10 April, during Scotland Week in North America, followed by New York from 16 April to 8 May.

The powerful production tells the story of the Black Watch regiment and its involvement in the Iraq war. It is based on the personal testimony of a group of soldiers interviewed by Fife-born writer Gregory Burke.

Showcasing Scotland's culture

Black Watch was first performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2006, and has since become a theatrical sensation. It has toured the world, from the US, Canada and Australia to Ireland and the UK, attracting new audiences to Scottish cultural life.

Black Watch had its US premiere in Los Angeles in September 2007.

Other US engagements have included two sell-out runs at St Ann’s Warehouse in New York and a visit to the 2008 Norfolk Arts Festival in Virginia.

The production has also played at venues and festivals in Australia, New Zealand, Glenrothes, Glasgow, London, Toronto, Virginia, Wales, Salford, Coventry and Dublin.

Honours and accolades for the play include four Laurence Olivier awards and the ‘Best Foreign Play’ award by the New York Drama Critics’ Circle.

The latest tour has been made possible in part by the support of the Scottish Government's International Touring Fund.

As well as the USA dates, Black Watch will play in Coventry (Mar 8 - 12) and Glenrothes, Fife (Mar 16 - 19).

Black Watch is not the only NTS production to head Stateside this year. Beautiful Burnout, a play about the world of boxing, will make its US premiere in New York for a run from February 24 to March 27.