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Virginia Arts Festival News

12th Annual Virginia Arts Festival Presents Black Watch, May 24-June 1, 2008, at Norfolk's Scope Arena

NORFOLK, Va., May 2 PRNewswire —

Black Watch: Background

In the autumn of 2004, 800 members of the storied Scots regiment, the Black Watch, shipped out for Iraq. Their mission: to replace 4,000 American Marines. The story of their experience is told in this shattering play, inspired by interviews with members of the regiment upon their return to Scotland. Brilliantly utilizing sound, lighting, and video, spoken word, tightly choreographed movement, and searing stagecraft, Black Watch engulfs the audience in the experience of the war — and ushers us into the hearts of the young men who willingly went, valiantly fought, and returned to sort out the aftermath of the war on terror.

Premiered at the 2006 Edinburgh Festival, the Scottish National Theatre's production of Black Watch drew an overwhelming critical response, sweeping theater awards in the United Kingdom, and then played New York and Los Angeles to a chorus of praise. The show made the "best of" lists of major publications, including The New York Times ("Ben Brantley's Top 10 Plays of 2007"), the Los Angeles Times ("Best of 2007"), Newsweek ("Top 5 Plays of 2007"), and New York Magazine ("Theatrical Event of the Year").

Now Virginia Arts Festival patrons can see this unforgettable work of theater. On the floor of the Scope Arena, the audience will be seated within striking distance of the action on the stage — and as part of that intimate experience, will discover what critics have called a "landmark cultural event of the 21st century" (Sunday Herald, Scotland).

Critical Acclaim

"Put simply, it's essential that you see Black Watch... It's among the most compelling theater pieces you could wish to see. The production from Scotland's National Theatre is magnificent, and its awesome reality and humaneness will overwhelm you."

- New York Observer

"There is poetry in Black Watch ...

The cast of 10 splendidly conveys the profane roughness of the unit, a brave-face locker-room spirit that does not entirely mask the soldiers' terror and tenderness of experience. Rarely has the torpor, the tension, the nerve-shattering randomness of this conflict's violence been made so agonizingly real. Black Watch is like a dose of caffeine delivered directly to the bloodstream."

- Peter Marks, The Washington Post

Performance Schedule and Tickets

Sat, May 24, 8:00 pm

Sun, May 25, 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm

May 27 - 28, 7:30 pm

Thur, May 29, 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm

Fri, May 30, 8:00 pm

Sat, May 31, 2:00 pm & 8:00 pm

Sun, June 1, 2:00 pm

Prism Theater, Scope Arena, Norfolk

Tickets starting at $42, on sale now, by phone at 757-282-2822 or Online http://www.vafest.org.

Patron Advisory - for mature audiences only

Co-presented with Norfolk's Sevenvenues and Double M Management. Supported by the British Council. The National Theatre of Scotland is supported by the Scottish Government.

Press contact: Cynthia Carter-West 757-282-2804 ccarterwest@vafest.org

This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com.

SOURCE Virginia Arts Festival

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