Black Watch

Powerful multi award winning National Theatre of Scotland portrayal of the lives, hopes and fears of individuals in the legendary Scottish regiment.

UEA Sportspark, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ

WED 17 – SAT 20 APRIL 2013, 7.30pm £29.50

Matinee: Sat 20 April 2013 2.30pm all seats £15

Box Office 01603 766400 Online: www.nnfestival.org

University Sportspark provides the perfect setting for ‘must-see’ multi award winning drama 

‘Few will come away untouched by this thrilling, raw, challenging and masterful piece of work’  Times * * * * *

The National Theatre of Scotland’s Black Watch by Gregory Burke, directed by John Tiffany, one of the last decades most celebrated and important theatre productions, is coming to Norwich.

The award winning Norfolk & Norwich Festival is teaming up with the University of East Anglia (UEA) to bring the National Theatre of Scotland’s powerful and moving drama to the city as part of the university’s 50^th anniversary celebrations. Originally performed in a drill hall, and subsequently performed in a variety of spaces the production evocatively transforms UEA’s Sportspark, making it the perfect setting to position the audience in the very heart of the war zone.

‘Black Watch is a landmark event’ Independent

Since its very first 2006 performances at the Edinburgh Festival, Black Watch has received standing ovations and enjoyed sold-out performances everywhere it has appeared around the world. 

‘Fierce, passionate and unguarded’ Guardian *****

Hurtling from a pool room in Fife to an armoured wagon in Iraq, Black Watch is based on interviews conducted by writer 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.

‘Like a dose of caffeine delivered directly to the bloodstream’ Washington Post

Black Watch has played to over 200,000 people across three continents and has garnered 22 awards in the UK, US and internationally. The production won four Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Director, Best Theatre Choreography, Best Play and Best Sound Design and the company won its first US award with the New York Drama Circle naming Black Watch Best Foreign Play. The production has been broadcast on BBC Radio 3, BBC TV Scotland and BBC 4, alongside the Scottish BAFTA award-winning documentary, Black Watch: A Soldier’s Story. There will be just five performances of the production in Norwich, from Wednesday 17 to Saturday 20 April at 7.30pm with a 2.30 matinee on Saturday 20. 

Norfolk & Norwich Festival director William Galinsky said ‘I’m thrilled to be bringing such a landmark production to UEA for their 50^th anniversary. Black Watch is undoubtedly one of the most moving works of theatre I have ever seen’. The Norfolk & Norwich Festival was last week presented with The EDP People’s Choice Award at the Norfolk Arts Awards.