It’s around all the time. As natural as breathing, eating and sleeping is fighting. We are not like all the other animals who know and except their place in the world, we are different. We are greedy; we think we know what is best. In short, it is in our nature to destroy each other, but at what cost to us? Gregory Burke’s new play investigates the mentality behind the men who do the fighting in the wars we create, the legendary Scottish regiment Blackwatch, and how the belief through history that we were fighting for the right cause is now failing in even our troops.

Ex-Blackwatch soldier Cammy (Brian Ferguson) has been approached by a researcher and writer interested in his thoughts and feelings about his time in Iraq. As he brings the writer to the social, where he and his other ex-soldier mates hang out to watch the football on Sunday, they tell of the Blackwatch history, of complex and mundane warfare, and the last great challenged before forced amalgamation. The questions may be simple, but the answers are not.

Based on interviews of ex-Blackwatch soliders who served in Iraq, the honesty of the play is striking. Like a Band of Brothers for the stage it is not about heroes and villains, but about young men intent on doing the job they signed up for, and dealing with new horrors never experienced before. The words are frank and poetic though littered with swearing and anger. The high energy of the young cast vibrates throughout the drill hall backdrop as past and present intermingle, punctuated with an emotive soundscape (Gareth Fry). Physical movement pieces splice the dialogued scenes creating an interchanging atmosphere of fear, sympathy, disgust and humour. The power of Blackwatch lies in its ability to evoke such different emotions from an audience in the blink of an eye and wholly absorb them in the action. There are politics, history and hypocrisy, but in the end it’s just the job they signed up for, and the strong camaraderie within the regiment is one which will stick with them ‘til the end of their days. A strong competitor for a Fringe First, Blackwatch is this year’s must see; just don’t go fighting to get tickets.

Traverse 4: University of Edinburgh Drill Hall, Forrest Hill (off Forrest Road) (0131 228 1404)
Running Time: 1hr55mins
Preview Aug 1-2, 4: 20:30 £9 (£4.50U)
Aug 5-6, 8-13, 15-20, 22-27: 20:30 £15 (£10) (£4.50U)