Acclaimed Series of Plays Tracing Recent History of Afghanistan Will Travel the US this Fall
Washington, DC (5 May) – Today the British Council and the Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) announced the US premiere of The Great Game, an acclaimed twelve-play cycle from London’s Tricycle Theatre which traces the history of foreign engagement in Afghanistan from 1842 to the present day. The Great Game will be presented at the STC September 15-26 as the first stop on a cross-country tour this fall.
First presented at London’s Tricycle Theatre in 2009, The Great Game was acclaimed in the UK as a “mind-blowing achievement” (The Guardian). The twelve plays, directed by the Tricycle’s Artistic Director Nicolas Kent and Theatre Director Indhu Rubasingham, explore three periods of Afghanistan’s recent history: British rule and independence from 1842 to 1930; communism, the Mujahideen, and the Taliban from 1979 to 1996; and the Afghan civil war, 9/11, and the aftermath of bombing, 1996-2009. “The Great Game” was a phrase popularized by British novelist Rudyard Kipling to describe the strategic rivalry between the British and Russian Empires for supremacy in Central Asia.
“The original intention in mounting The Great Game was to inform audiences of the history of Western involvement in Afghanistan since the early 19th century until the present day. The recent Obama Afpak policy review, the continuing ISAF operations in Helmand and in Afghanistan generally, and the mounting military and civilian casualty figures emphasize the importance of this,” said Nicolas Kent, the Tricycle’s Artistic Director. “We very much hope that this trilogy and the theatre can play its part in continuing to stimulate the public's discussion and debate on what is currently the most important focus of UK and American foreign policy.”
In addition to supporting The Great Game’s American tour, the British Council will partner with key US organizations to host a series of public events to accompany the plays. Public programming pre- and post-performance will include discussions on the role that contemporary art plays in exploring current social issues and international events.
“The British Council is delighted to partner with the STC on the US debut of The Great Game,” said Sharon Memis, British Council Director North America. “As the UK’s cultural relations organization, we believe that the arts are an important medium for building trust and engagement across cultures. Cultural relations is a powerful, long-term international relations tool, with plays such as The Great Game provoking critical new thinking and dialogue on some of the most pressing global issues today.”
About the British Council: The British Council is the United Kingdom’s international non-profit organization for cultural relations and education opportunities. We build engagement and trust for the UK through the exchange of knowledge and ideas between people worldwide. In the US, we increase recognition of the variety of higher education opportunities available in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and facilitate institutional collaborations between the US and UK. Through transatlantic artistic partnerships, we introduce Americans to high-quality, groundbreaking creative work from the UK and our climate change programs support a network of young leaders who are committed to tackling climate change globally and in their own communities. 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. With offices in Washington, New York and Los Angeles, the British Council USA also builds global partnerships with US-based institutions to support our work around the world. For more information, please visit www.britishcouncil.org/usa.
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