The Power of the Stage:

The Power of the Stage: Drama as Diplomacy
Sunday, October 7, 2007
5:00PM – 6:00PM
The Little Theater, MacGowan Hall, UCLA

Leading professionals in the artistic and academic communities joined together for provocative discussion about the role of the arts in cultural relations, using the National Theatre of Scotland’s critically-acclaimed Black Watch as a case study.

UCLA Diplomat in Residence Peter Kovach moderated a distinguished panel featuring:

Sasha Anawalt – Founding director, USC Annenberg/Getty Arts Journalism Program and director, NEA Arts Journalism Institute in Theater and Musical Theater, USC

Nicholas Cull – Director, Master of Public Diplomacy Program, USC and author of “Gregory Burke’s Black Watch: Theatre as Cultural Diplomacy”

Alma Martinez – Associate Professor of Theater Arts, Pomona College, and former member of El Teatro Campesino

Christopher Merrill – Director, International Writing Program, University of Iowa, and author of Cultural Diplomacy: the Linchpin of Public Diplomacy"

Click Here for Photos from the Event

The program will be introduced by Sharon Memis, director, British Council USA.

The program was immediately followed by a reception and the evening performance of Black Watch, presented by UCLA Live.

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Black Watch

The National Theatre of Scotland’s award-winning Black Watch is a stunning piece of theater that deals sensitively with one of the most challenging social and political issues of our time – the experience of soldiers involved in the current Iraq conflict.

Hurtling from a pool room in Fife to an armored wagon in Iraq, Black Watch is based on recent interviews conducted by acclaimed Scottish playwright Gregory Burke with former soldiers who served in Iraq. The play explores the reality of war and homecoming from the perspective of the men who live through it, offering a revealing look at what it means to be not only part of the legendary Scottish regiment but also “the war on terror.”

The US premiere of Black Watch marks the debut of the National Theatre of Scotland in the United States, and is supported by the Scottish Government and the British Council.

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The UK’s international organization for educational and cultural relations, the British Council builds long-term relationships between the US and the UK and fosters appreciation of the UK’s creative ideas and achievements.

We increase recognition of the wide array of learning opportunities available in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and facilitate educational cooperation between the US and UK. Through transatlantic artistic partnerships, we introduce the American public to high-quality, groundbreaking creative achievements from the UK, and our science programs build networks that draw upon the UK's innovation in climate change and other disciplines. We also develop initiatives that give a voice to the next generation of leaders on both sides of the Atlantic, encouraging them to work together to explore solutions to current and future global issues. For more information, please visit www.britishcouncil.org/usa.