Blackwatch @ SECC

 

As the winner of four Laurence Olivier awards and a New York Drama Critics’ Circle award, Gregory Burke’s Black Watch 2010 has a glorious reputation to live up to.

It tells the stories and the feelings of a group of young soldiers from the now obsolete Black Watch regiment. We see camaraderie through commiseration with Cammy (Jack Lowden), Granty (Richard Rankin), Rossco (Ross Anderson), Stewarty (Chris Starkie), Macca (Cameron Barnes), Nabsy (Stuart Martin), Fraz (Jamie Quinn), and Kenzie (Scott Fletcher) as a journalist (Keith Fleming) tries to grasp how the conflict in Iraq affected them individually, and as a unit.

Set in a traverse style in the SECC, the setting seemed at first an unusual choice for the National Theatre of Scotland production, directed by John Tiffany; The SECC is not best known for creating an intimate theatrical atmosphere. However, it is clear that this positioning works to both alienate a disconnected audience, highlighting perhaps how we don’t ever truly get to experience how these young men fighting feel; and conversely draws us in – creating a striking and poignant piece of theatre balancing between realism and theatrics in a dialogue between story and audience.

Burke’s writing coupled with Tiffany’s direction complement each other well creating a pacey fast-moving performance captivating viewers. Steven Hoggett as Associate Director of movement has developed a physical performance full of spectacular dance based fight scenes. A particular highlight being the movement based history of the Black Watch parading their traditional dress. All of which is supported by Laura Hopkins’ set design – easily carrying the performance from dingy pub to desert without question whilst the stellar creative team cement the realism.

Having seen Black Watch 2010 and witnessing one of the undoubtedly well-deserved standing ovations, it must be said that as with the Iraq conflict, and now the move into Afghanistan making this performance as relevant now as in 2006, Black Watch will be one for the history books.