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by Gregory Burke
directed by John Tiffany

at the Broadway Armory,
5917 N. Broadway, Chicago

October 10–21, 2012

Black Watch makes triumphant return to Chicago”
–Chicago Tribune

“Highly recommended! An enthralling mix of grand-scale spectacle and intimate storytelling.”
–Chicago Sun-Times

Recommended for audiences 13 years and older. The production contains very strong language, loud explosions and strobe lighting.

Back by popular demand! CST brings the National Theatre of Scotland's world-renowned Black Watch to Chicago audiences for a return engagement at the Chicago Park District's Broadway Armory. This impassioned, urgent telling of a heroic Scottish regiment's tour in Iraq deftly interweaves events both past and present. Battles leap to heartrending life, glorious bagpipes resound, and the intimate moments of soldiers' lives are revealed as they discover what it means to make the journey home again.

Approximate Running Time: 1 hour, 50 minutes (no intermission)

International programming at Chicago Shakespeare Theater
is supported, in part, by the Julius Frankel Foundation.

Hurtling from a pool room in Fife to an armored wagon in Iraq, Black Watch is based on interviews conducted by playwright 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. John Tiffany’s production makes powerful and inventive use of movement, music and song to create a visceral, complex and urgent piece of theatre.

 

A Front Line Perspective on Black Watch 
Foreign war correspondent David Pratt shares his reactions to Black Watch as someone who has been on the ground in wartime.

 

Writer Gregory Burke on Black Watch 
Burke discusses Scotland’s pride in its military traditions, and explores the enduring appeal of regiments like the Black Watch.

 

History of Chicago’s Broadway Armory 
Learn more about this unique landmark in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood where Black Watch will be performed.

 

The Cast
See who's who among the actors.

 

The Creative Team
See who’s who on the creative team—including the designers and other artists who contribute to the creation of the world of the play.

Interview with the Creative Team
Director John Tiffany, writer Greg Burke and Associate Directors Steven Hoggett (movement) and Davey Anderson (music) discuss the the 2010 revival, and tell us why Black Watch is still relevant to audiences.

 

Director John Tiffany on Black Watch 
Tiffany reflects on the creative process that lead to the development of this critically acclaimed production.

Watch Video Trailer
See a preview of the action on stage.

Photo Gallery
Get a sneak peek at Black Watch.

The Cast in Training
The new cast members discuss their first days in the rehearsal room as the award-winning show prepares for a major UK and international tour.

The Cast in Rehearsal
The cast members are put through their paces—literally—by Movement Director Stephen Hoggett as they prepare a series of physically challenging scenes.

Making the Music of Black Watch
Davey Anderson, Associate Director: Music, talks through his arrangements of traditional Scottish songs used in the production. Songs include Twa Recruiting Sergeants and The Gallant Forty-Twa.

Building the Set
The National Theatre of Scotland's Black Watch has been designed to tour the world and is flexible enough to fit into many different spaces—from major auditoriums like London's Barbican Centre to non-traditional theatre spaces like the Broadway Armory here in Chicago.

 

Developing the world of Black Watch 
Davey Anderson (Associate Director, Music) and Steven Hoggett (Associate Director, Movement) discuss the process involved in putting Black Watch together.

 

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