Ryan Fletcher in the National Theatre of Scotland’s production of ‘Black Watch.’ Photo by Colin Mearns.
We here at MTG with your help are presenting our Reader’s Choice Awards for the first time this year. As with any awards presentation there are always a couple of special awards that are not voted on. As your friendly neighborhood writer, our publisher Mark Beachy has graciously let me create our two special awards for 2012. Our first award went to Barbara Bear for the Most Enthusiastic and Supportive Audience Member.
Our second special award is for Most Unique Theatrical Experience. That honor goes to The National Theatre of Scotland for its presentations of Black Watch and the site specific The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart. Both shows had a very unique presentation style which gave the audience a totally immersive experience.
Annie Grace, Melody Grove and Andy Clark in ‘The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart.’ Photo by Drew Farrell.
In the case of The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart the company turned the back room of The Bier Baron Tavern in Dupont Circle into a site specific performance space and using the entire room created one of the best shows I saw in 2012.
In the case of Black Watch the audience was on both sides of the stage and very close to the action, so you really felt what the characters in the piece were feeling. The precision dance pieces were another highlight.
Congratulations to The National Theatre of Scotland for giving us two incredible nights of theatre and kudos goes to The Shakespeare Theatre Company for being savvy enough to book this truly original theatre company here in Washington, DC.
Special Award for Most Unique Theatrical Experience:
THE NATIONAL THEATRE OF SCOTLAND
