"The Great Game - Afghanistan" Teaches the Past and Present of That Nation
Two centuries ago, the term "The Great Game" referred to the rivalry between the British and Russian Empires.
Today "The Great Game: Afghanistan" is the title of a remarkable play presented in three parts that delves into the culture, history and politics of that country from 1842 to the present.
Conceived and staged last year at London's Tricycle Theatre by director Nicolas Kent to rave reviews by the British press, it began a four-city U.
S.
tour in Washington at the Shakespeare Theatre Company's Harman Center for the Arts.
The team of 23 including 14 actors and six crew members tell the story of that nation in twelve short plays, four in each part.
The script is being updated constantly.
It includes an interview with General McChrystal just before his departure and Kent is currently awaiting one with General Petraeus.
Part One (1842-1930), Invasions and Independence, begins with the British Army's worst defeat in history near Kabul and ends with King Amanullah and his family stuck in the snow while fleeing the capital.
Part Two (1979-1996), Communism, The Mujahideen & the Taliban, addresses the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and the alliance between the CIA and ISI (Pakistan intelligence agency) that forced Russia to withdraw.
Part Three (1996-2010), Enduring Freedom, presents the complexities of the civil war, women's rights, the onus of the opium crop and insight into the soldiers themselves.
Each of the twelve plays stands alone and is a half-hour long.
The three parts may be viewed in any order, but Kent believes that the best way to understand Afghanistan is to attend all three parts chronologically.
Kent was chagrined when Britain's enormous response following 9/11 shifted to Iraq after President Bush attacked that country, yet the war in Afghanistan rumbled on.
Noting that the artistic community lost focus as well, he decided something must be done to bring attention back to Afghanistan.
He first got in touch with Tom Stoppard who convinced him it had to be not just one evening.
The next step was to commission twelve playwrights to address important events leading to the development of the country as it is today.
Kent then went to Kabul to view the situation up close and got one interview with a woman six days before her home was sacked by a bomber.
He came back knowing exactly what the writers needed to get started.
When he initiated the project, there had been only 50 British casualties.
Now there are more than 300 and his country will send 150,000 more troops there in January.
He sees a weariness in his country about the war, and yet most citizens are beginning to believe that pulling out now would leave the Afghan people in terrible shape at the mercy of the Taliban.
Upon learning Kent planned to bring "The Great Game" to several American cities, Michael Kahn, STC artistic director, became determined to schedule a stop in Washington.
He knew about the political plays the Tricycle Theatre has presented in the past and knows many of the playwrights who contributed to the project.
In advance of the opening performance, the STC hosted a symposium to explain Afghanistan's past and present beyond the headlines, the role of its women and future perspectives.
Author Greg Mortenson gave a keynote address covering his experiences performing humanitarian missions in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
"I hope people attend all three parts of 'The Great Game' to become informed about Afghanistan's larger picture," Kahn said.
"This will enable them to have meaningful conversations with those who may not understand its background and options for the future.
"
Today "The Great Game: Afghanistan" is the title of a remarkable play presented in three parts that delves into the culture, history and politics of that country from 1842 to the present.
Conceived and staged last year at London's Tricycle Theatre by director Nicolas Kent to rave reviews by the British press, it began a four-city U.
S.
tour in Washington at the Shakespeare Theatre Company's Harman Center for the Arts.
The team of 23 including 14 actors and six crew members tell the story of that nation in twelve short plays, four in each part.
The script is being updated constantly.
It includes an interview with General McChrystal just before his departure and Kent is currently awaiting one with General Petraeus.
Part One (1842-1930), Invasions and Independence, begins with the British Army's worst defeat in history near Kabul and ends with King Amanullah and his family stuck in the snow while fleeing the capital.
Part Two (1979-1996), Communism, The Mujahideen & the Taliban, addresses the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and the alliance between the CIA and ISI (Pakistan intelligence agency) that forced Russia to withdraw.
Part Three (1996-2010), Enduring Freedom, presents the complexities of the civil war, women's rights, the onus of the opium crop and insight into the soldiers themselves.
Each of the twelve plays stands alone and is a half-hour long.
The three parts may be viewed in any order, but Kent believes that the best way to understand Afghanistan is to attend all three parts chronologically.
Kent was chagrined when Britain's enormous response following 9/11 shifted to Iraq after President Bush attacked that country, yet the war in Afghanistan rumbled on.
Noting that the artistic community lost focus as well, he decided something must be done to bring attention back to Afghanistan.
He first got in touch with Tom Stoppard who convinced him it had to be not just one evening.
The next step was to commission twelve playwrights to address important events leading to the development of the country as it is today.
Kent then went to Kabul to view the situation up close and got one interview with a woman six days before her home was sacked by a bomber.
He came back knowing exactly what the writers needed to get started.
When he initiated the project, there had been only 50 British casualties.
Now there are more than 300 and his country will send 150,000 more troops there in January.
He sees a weariness in his country about the war, and yet most citizens are beginning to believe that pulling out now would leave the Afghan people in terrible shape at the mercy of the Taliban.
Upon learning Kent planned to bring "The Great Game" to several American cities, Michael Kahn, STC artistic director, became determined to schedule a stop in Washington.
He knew about the political plays the Tricycle Theatre has presented in the past and knows many of the playwrights who contributed to the project.
In advance of the opening performance, the STC hosted a symposium to explain Afghanistan's past and present beyond the headlines, the role of its women and future perspectives.
Author Greg Mortenson gave a keynote address covering his experiences performing humanitarian missions in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
"I hope people attend all three parts of 'The Great Game' to become informed about Afghanistan's larger picture," Kahn said.
"This will enable them to have meaningful conversations with those who may not understand its background and options for the future.
"
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