DUNDEE REP and Perth Theatre both scooped top awards at the fifth annual Critics Awards for Theatre in Scotland (CATS) at Pitlochry Festival Theatre yesterday.

The Rep was presented with the best design award for its production of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, while Sandy Grierson won the award for best actor for his performance in production company Communicado and Perth Theatre’s joint production of Robin Jenkins’ Fergus Lamont.

Black Watch, the National Theatre of Scotland’s hard-hitting drama based on experiences of soldiers serving in Iraq, scooped four awards, including that of best production.

Wick-born actress Meg Fraser, of Glasgow’s Citizens Theatre, picked up the award for best actress for her portrayal of Martha Meier in Franz Xaver Kroetz’s Tom Fool.

The awards ceremony, which was open to the public for the first time, also saw an exclusive extract from Peter Arnott’s new play, Swindle and Death, and musical extracts from Whisky Kisses.

Members of the Black Watch regiment were special guests at ceremony.