Preview: Grounded

American George Brant’s internationally-acclaimed play is about a hot-rod female fighter pilot who unexpectedly falls pregnant and finds that her career in the sky is prematurely over. Instead, she is assigned to fly remote controlled drones over the Middle East from an air conditioned trailer in Las Vegas. She struggles through 12 hour shifts and, as the pressure mounts, the boundaries between her military and domestic duties begin to dangerously blur.

As director Richard Baron explains, “Firebrand is thrilled to have the opportunity to produce another superb cutting edge contemporary play: the first Scottish tour of this hugely important solo drama about the controversial topic of drone warfare, which has just finished a successful Broadway run starring Anne Hathaway.

“Described in The Scotsman as ‘heartbreaking and beautiful’ and ‘an essential story for our times’, the multi award-winning play thrillingly targets our perceptions about family, motherhood and how we live and fight our wars in an increasingly virtual world.

“The production also marks the start of a new relationship between Firebrand, our partners at Heart of Hawick, and the Byre Theatre, St Andrews.”

Grounded stars Firebrand’s co-artistic director Janet Coulson, who brushes up her American accent after her memorable performance as Carol in David Mamet’s Oleanna in 2012.

It runs at Heart of Hawick on Thursday March 3 (preview), and Friday and Saturday, 4-5 March, at 7.30pm. Tickets, £12 (£10 preview) are available on 01450 360688, or in person at the box office.