--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We never want to update 'Black Watch,'…" description: "\"We never want to update 'Black Watch,' because it's about a moment in time, and through that moment, it manages to speak about Afghanistan and all othe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7db/john-tiffany-4363_play_we-never-want-to-update-black-watch-beca_1466479.jpg" --- # We never want to update 'Black Watch,' because it's about… ![“We never want to update 'Black Watch,' because it's about a moment in time, and through that moment, it manages to speak about Afghanistan and all other wars. This play is 'about' Iraq, but it's actually about every war that's ever been or will ever be.” quote by John Tiffany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7db/john-tiffany-4363_play_we-never-want-to-update-black-watch-beca_1466479.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7db/john-tiffany-4363_play_we-never-want-to-update-black-watch-beca_1466479.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7db/john-tiffany-4363_play_we-never-want-to-update-black-watch-beca_1466479.jpg) > “We never want to update 'Black Watch,' because it's about a moment in time, and through that moment, it manages to speak about Afghanistan and all other wars. This play is 'about' Iraq, but it's actually about every war that's ever been or will ever be.” [John Tiffany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tiffany/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The play uses a specific conflict to comment on the universal nature of war and its recurring patterns. **In simple terms:** A story about one war reflects all wars. Key Takeaway Recognize recurring war themes across conflicts. Themes war history humanity Mood reflective somber Type theatrical political When to use this quote - theatre productions - military education - peace activism - journalism - policy analysis Key Concepts conflict memory politics Questions to Reflect On - How does focusing on one war help us understand others? - What unique lessons can each war teach? A Different Perspective It may oversimplify distinct cultural contexts of each war. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actually War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actually-war-4688566/) [Black Watch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-watch-1009127/) [Moment In Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moment-in-time/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-iraq-1289426/) [Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Wars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wars/) [Wars Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wars-play-5310898/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) ## Related quotes > [I'm fascinated to see how 'Black Watch' connects with an American audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tiffany/i-m-fascinated-to-see-how-black-watch-connects-with-an-american/) [John Tiffany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tiffany/) > ['Black Watch' has taken its place in the canon of Scottish theatre, and that's fantastic. It's a very particular kind of theatre. It's about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tiffany/black-watch-has-taken-its-place-in-the-canon-of-scottish-theatre-and/) [John Tiffany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tiffany/) > [The Black Watch is one of the most illustrious regiments. They've been at the vanguard of British military operations for 400 years. Something they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tiffany/the-black-watch-is-one-of-the-most-illustrious-regiments-they-ve-been/) [John Tiffany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tiffany/) > [It's very hard to argue with the politics of 'Black Watch,' because it is not an opinion; it is just the true stories of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tiffany/it-s-very-hard-to-argue-with-the-politics-of-black-watch-because-it/) [John Tiffany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tiffany/) > [So actually war is politically profitable, financially profitable, morally depraved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-kucinich/so-actually-war-is-politically-profitable-financially-profitable/) [Dennis Kucinich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-kucinich/) > [“We think we are in sync with our environment, but actually it’s at war with us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/we-think-we-are-in-sync-with-our-environment-but-actually-it-s-at-war/) [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) > [I don't care where I play, I can even play in Iraq if need be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-ramirez/i-don-t-care-where-i-play-i-can-even-play-in-iraq-if-need-be/) [Manny Ramirez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-ramirez/) > [We have a strong and vital role to play in Iraq, and we certainly cannot leave a vacuum for the insurgents to take over.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-have-a-strong-and-vital-role-to-play-in-iraq-and-we-certainly/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [“Living is like driving," my grandmother used to say. "You have to pick a lane." Have I chosen the right lane? It feels like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-flinn/living-is-like-driving-my-grandmother-used-to-say-you-have-to-pick-a/) [Kathleen Flinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-flinn/) > [“Through lesson after lesson, we are becoming, individually and collectively, more enlightened. Understanding this helps you to see how, in relationships, for example, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-gordon/through-lesson-after-lesson-we-are-becoming-individually-and/) [Marilyn Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-gordon/) > [No, every album is something like a snapshot. It only shows one moment in time. It shows what we feel and think right at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-albarn/no-every-album-is-something-like-a-snapshot-it-only-shows-one-moment/) [Damon Albarn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-albarn/) > [“When you hold too tightly to a plan, you risk missing out on these things. And when you wake up one day in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-puett/when-you-hold-too-tightly-to-a-plan-you-risk-missing-out-on-these/) [Michael Puett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-puett/) > [“Where did this whole thing begin? If what we think of as reality is just a pattern that somebody brought Outside, and the universe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/where-did-this-whole-thing-begin-if-what-we-think-of-as-reality-is/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [“Sometimes people walk away from love because it is so beautiful that it terrifies them. Sometimes they leave because the connection shines a bright…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-brown/sometimes-people-walk-away-from-love-because-it-is-so-beautiful-that/) [Jeff Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-brown/) > [“I look at you and my body realizes that the endless possibilities of the universe stretch out from this moment in time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tellulah-darling/i-look-at-you-and-my-body-realizes-that-the-endless-possibilities-of/) [Tellulah Darling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tellulah-darling/) ## More by John Tiffany > [The only thing I fear is when people say, 'I should go to the theatre more.' I say, 'We should create work that makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tiffany/the-only-thing-i-fear-is-when-people-say-i-should-go-to-the-theatre/) [John Tiffany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tiffany/) > [“Pain Must & Will Come”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tiffany/pain-must-will-come/) [John Tiffany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tiffany/) > [When I get really down, I remember that we all share 99.99 per cent of our DNA with Beyonce. And suddenly, the world doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tiffany/when-i-get-really-down-i-remember-that-we-all-share-99-99-per-cent-of/) [John Tiffany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tiffany/) > [I'm not interested in putting naturalism on stage - I want passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tiffany/i-m-not-interested-in-putting-naturalism-on-stage-i-want-passion/) [John Tiffany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tiffany/) > [“Those that we love never truly leave us, Harry. There are things that death cannot touch. Paint . . . and memory . . . and love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tiffany/those-that-we-love-never-truly-leave-us-harry-there-are-things-that/) [John Tiffany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tiffany/) > [The physicality of a production needs evolution and breath.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tiffany/the-physicality-of-a-production-needs-evolution-and-breath/) [John Tiffany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tiffany/) > [Some actors just have a quality, a way of combining music and character and story, where everything just falls into place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tiffany/some-actors-just-have-a-quality-a-way-of-combining-music-and/) [John Tiffany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tiffany/) > [“There are mountain trolls riding Graphorns through Hungary, there are giants with winged tattoos on their backs walking through the Greek Seas, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tiffany/there-are-mountain-trolls-riding-graphorns-through-hungary-there-are/) [John Tiffany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tiffany/) > [“Ministry seized an illegal Time-Turner from Theodore Nott and has kept it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tiffany/ministry-seized-an-illegal-time-turner-from-theodore-nott-and-has/) [John Tiffany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tiffany/) > [Theatre is a living organism. You only know if your show is working when you see it with an audience. You can also tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tiffany/theatre-is-a-living-organism-you-only-know-if-your-show-is-working/) [John Tiffany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tiffany/) > [“Harry, you have one of the greatest hearts of any wizard who ever lived, and I do not believe your heart told you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tiffany/harry-you-have-one-of-the-greatest-hearts-of-any-wizard-who-ever/) [John Tiffany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tiffany/) > ['West Side Story' is one of the greatest theatrical experiences I've had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tiffany/west-side-story-is-one-of-the-greatest-theatrical-experiences-i-ve-had/) [John Tiffany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tiffany/) > [There are some actors who see a show as something to do before going out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tiffany/there-are-some-actors-who-see-a-show-as-something-to-do-before-going/) [John Tiffany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tiffany/) > [“Sometimes costs are made to be borne.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tiffany/sometimes-costs-are-made-to-be-borne/) [John Tiffany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tiffany/) > [I don't know how films get made, and I think I'll leave it to other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tiffany/i-don-t-know-how-films-get-made-and-i-think-i-ll-leave-it-to-other/) [John Tiffany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tiffany/) [Explore all 110 John Tiffany quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tiffany/) ## More Play quotes > [There are guys who play lacrosse, and there are lacrosse players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-mundorf/there-are-guys-who-play-lacrosse-and-there-are-lacrosse-players/) [Brendan Mundorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-mundorf/) > [You gotta have a little kid in you to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-edwards/you-gotta-have-a-little-kid-in-you-to-play-football/) [Herman Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-edwards/) > [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-sarabhai/but-we-are-convinced-that-if-we-are-to-play-a-meaningful-role/) [Vikram Sarabhai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-sarabhai/) > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [You play a part, and as soon as a movie is over and the camera stops, you go home and you're not really responsible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nastassja-kinski/you-play-a-part-and-as-soon-as-a-movie-is-over-and-the-camera-stops/) [Nastassja Kinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nastassja-kinski/) > [I think all children love to dress up and play make believe. It's just that I never stopped.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-bonnar/i-think-all-children-love-to-dress-up-and-play-make-believe-it-s-just/) [Mark Bonnar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-bonnar/) > [It would be awesome to play in my backyard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-barty/it-would-be-awesome-to-play-in-my-backyard/) [Ashleigh Barty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-barty/) > [I really enjoy going to play for the national team and be with the guys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedi-osman/i-really-enjoy-going-to-play-for-the-national-team-and-be-with-the/) [Cedi Osman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedi-osman/) > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [It's a shame that when you've actually lived some life and have something to write about, they're saying you're too old to come out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kt-tunstall/it-s-a-shame-that-when-you-ve-actually-lived-some-life-and-have/) [KT Tunstall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kt-tunstall/) > [I can play on grass - when I won Junior Wimbledon, that was an unbelievable feeling, I could not believe that I had won…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grigor-dimitrov/i-can-play-on-grass-when-i-won-junior-wimbledon-that-was-an/) [Grigor Dimitrov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grigor-dimitrov/) [Browse all 36,264 Play quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We never want to update 'Black Watch,' because it's about a moment in time, and through that moment, it manages to speak about Afghanistan and all other wars. 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