Rose Theatre Kingston

27 April - 1 May

Over the past fifty years Peter Brook has irrevocably influenced the landscape of theatre and has inspired a new generation of theatre practitioners. His work has been to the Barbican three times previously, in 2007 with Sizwe Banzi is Dead, in 2006 with The Grand Inquisitor and in 2005 with Ta Main Dans La Mienne. 11 and 12 is based on Brook and Marie-Helene Estienne's play Tierno Bokar which was critically acclaimed during its run in Warwick in 2005 where it was performed in French. This new production will be performed in English by an international cast.

This new play, which comes to the Rose as part of an international tour, explores an extraordinary conflict in West Africa under French occupation. It shows how a dispute over whether a certain prayer should be recited 11 or 12 times leads inexorably to hatred and massacres. The question of violence and the true place of tolerance make this epic story more than ever relevant today.

‘At the heart of the play lies a dash of values between Islamic Africa and an alien civilization and a plea for mutual tolerance and understanding that makes this very much a play for our times.'
The Guardian on Tierno Bokar

‘Britain's greatest director has pulled off one of his most densely spiritual creations to date.'
Financial Times on Tierno Bokar

With
Antonio Gil Martinez
Makram J. Khoury
Tunji Lucas
Jared McNeill
Khalifa Natour
Abdou Ouologuem
Maximilien Seweryn

90 minutes, no interval

Age guidance 14+

Adapted from the works of Amadou Hampaté Bâ
by Marie-Hélène Estienne and Peter Brook
Directed by Peter Brook
Music by Toshi Tsuchitori
Lighting design by Philippe Vialatte
Costumes by Hélène Patarot

Co-commissioned by barbicanbite10, London; C.I.C.T. / Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord, Paris; Grotowski Institute, Wroclaw. Associate Producer William Wilkinson

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