Public Theater Begins Previews 12/1 For THE GREAT GAME: AFGHANISTAN

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) in association with and at NYU Skirball Center will begin previews Wednesday, December 1 for the acclaimed Tricycle Theatre Company's THE GREAT GAME: AFGHANISTAN. Written by 12 leading British and American Playwrights and directed by Nicolas Kent and Indhu Rubasingham, THE GREAT GAME will run through Sunday, December 19, with an official press opening of Tuesday, December 7. Tickets are on sale now.

Through the eyes of 12 leading British and American Playwrights and the voices of those actively involved in the war and on U.S. & NATO policy in Afghanistan, THE GREAT GAME: AFGHANISTAN explores, in three separate thrilling and provocative parts, the culture and history of Afghanistan since Western involvement in 1842 to the present day. The three parts can be seen in any order; marathon performances will be held on weekends.

THE GREAT GAME: AFGHANISTAN features 12 plays by Richard Bean, Lee Blessing, David Edgar, David Greig, Amit Gupta, Ron Hutchinson, Stephen Jeffreys, Abi Morgan, Ben Ockrent, Simon Stephens, Colin Teevan, and Joy Wilkinson.

The cast features Daniel Betts, Sheena Bhattessa, Michael Cochrane, Karl Davies, Vincent Ebrahim, Nabil Elouahabi, Shereen Martineau, Tom McKay, Daniel Rabin, Danny Rahim, Raad Rawi, Jemma Redgrave, Cloudia Swann, and Rick Warden.

THE GREAT GAME: AFGHANISTAN features project design by Pamela Howard, lighting design by James Farncombe, and sound design by Tom Lishman.

Nicolas Kent (Director) is Artistic Director of the Tricycle Theatre Company where he has directed over 35 plays including all the Tricycle Tribunal plays. Most recently, he directed the British premiere of John Patrick Shanley's Doubt and the world premiere of Frank McGuinness' Greta Garbo Came To Donegal. On BBC television, he has directed "The Workshop," "Pentecost," "Sharing Time," "The Colour of Justice," "Justifying War," and "Half The Picture," as well as "Called To Account" and "Bloody Sunday" on BBC Radio. In London, he has directed at Hampstead, the Royal Court, Young Vic, Lyric Hammersmith, Donmar Warehouse and the RSC. In the West End, he co-directed Ain't Misbehavin' and Guantanamo: Honor Bound To Defend Freedom (also in New York); The Colour of Justice at the Victoria Palace and the National Theatre. In America, he has directed Playboy of the West Indies at the Court Theatre Chicago, Walk in the Woods at Northern Stage and The Workshop in New York.

Indhu Rubasingham (Director) is renowned in the U.K. for her work with new writing. She recently commissioned, directed and produced an acclaimed season of nine new plays at the Tricycle Theatre entitled Women, Power and Politics. Prior to this, she directed the European premiere of Lynn Nottage's Pulitzer Prize-winning Ruined at The Almeida Theatre. Other European premieres include: for The Hampstead Theatre, Yellowman by Dael Orlandersmith (shortlisted for the Pulitzer Prize); Pulitzer Prize-winning Anna in the Tropics by Nilo Cruz, and Fabulation by Lynn Nottage (Tricycle Theatre). World premieres include Detaining Justice; Starstruck (recipient of the George Devine Award) and Darfur: How Long Is Never? (all for the Tricycle Theatre). For The Royal Court Theatre: Lift Off, Clubland-Evening Standard Best New Playwright Award (both by Roy Williams); Free Outgoing-shortlisted for Evening Standard Best New Playwright Award-and Disconnect (both by Anupama Chandrasekhar); Sugar Mummies (by Tanika Gupta). For the Royal National Theatre Indhu has directed The Waiting Room and The Ramayana (also at Birmingham Rep).

Daniel Betts. His Tricycle appearances include The Great Game: Afghanistan (2009). Theatre include Bedroom Farce (West End), Miss Julie (Rose Kingston), Much Ado About Nothing (Crucible Sheffield), Little Women (Duchess Theatre), The Comedy of Errors (Bristol Old Vic), Othello, Phaedre (Concentric Circles), The School for Wives (Piccadilly Theatre), Skylight (National Theatre, Wyndham's Theatre), and Easter (RSC, the Pit). His film credits include Hunger and Tom's Midnight Garden. Television credits include "Criminal Justice," "The Fixer," "U Be Dead," "Law And Order," "Silent Witness," "Murphy's Law," "Holby City," "Henry VII," "The Bill," "A Touch of Frost," "Midsomer Murders," and "Cadfael."

Sheena Bhattessa. Her Tricycle appearances include The Great Game Afghanistan (2009). Her theatre credits include Lotus Beauty (The Gate), Being (TSI, New York), The Lemon Tree (World's End), and The Tempest (Churchill Theatre). Her film and television credits include Love Aaj Kal, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, Heroes and Villians, and "The Fixer."

Michael Cochrane's Tricycle appearances include Nuremberg, Colour of Justice, Dance of Death, Bloody Sunday, Torture Team,and The Great Game Afghanistan (2009). West End theatre credits include Over the Moon and Noises Off. His television credits include "Margaret," "Long Walk To Finchley," "Sharpe," "Wire In The Blood," "Mumbai Calling," "Government Inspector," "Jonathan Creek," "Charles Bravo," "Murphy's Law," "Spooks," "Micawber," "A Touch of Frost," "Rosemary and Thyme," "Perfect World," "Monarch of The Glen," "Heartbeat," "Wings," "Criminal Justice 2," and "Law and Order:UK." His film appearances include A Different Loyalty, Incognito, and The Saint.

Karl Davies. His theatre credits include Snowbound (Trafalgar Studios) and The Flint Street Nativity
(Liverpool Playhouse). His film and television credits include Dolphins and Me and Her, "Midsomers Murders," "Kingdom" - starring opposite Stephen Fry, "The Bill," and "Peak Practice."

Vincent Ebrahim. His Tricycle appearances include Ghandi and The Great Game: Afghanistan (2009). His theatre credits include Nathan The Wise (Hampstead), Credible Witness (Royal Court Upstairs), Ramayana (Birmingham Rep and National Theatre), A Midsummer Nights Dream (Tara Arts and Lyric), Tartuffe, Little Clay Cart and Fansheen (National Theatre), Real Dreams, and The Danton Affair (RSC). His film and television credits include The Curse of the Were Rabbit, "The Old Guys," "Compulsion," "The Kumars at Number 42," "New Street Law," "After You've Gone," "Meet The Magoos," "The Lenny Henry Show," "Holby City," "Bedtime," "Doctors," and "Clocking Off."

Nabil Elouahabi's Tricycle appearances include Crossing Jerusalem and The Great Game: Afghanistan
(2009). His other theatre credits include Sparkleshank (National), Baltikings (Lyric Hammersmith), East to East (Oldham Theatre), and Swingers, Choir Boys (Old Red Lion). His film and television credits include Charlie Wilson's War, Code 46, Ali G Indahouse, The Sum of All Fears, In This World, "Generation Kill," "The Path to 9/11," "Eastenders," "Only Fools And Horses," "London's Burning," "Casualty," and "The Bill."

Shereen Martineau's theatre credits include Hens (Playhouse:Live at Riverside Studios), The Black Album, The Hour We Knew Nothing of Each Other (National Theatre), Model for Mankind (Cock Tavern), The Bacchae (Abbey Theatre, Dublin), Tajas Verdes (Gate Theatre), Twelfth Night (Albery Theatre), Turn of The Screw (Wolsey Theatre), Measure for Measure, Richard III, Titus Andronicus (RSC), and Romeo and Juliet (Liverpool Playhouse). Her television appearances include "Hens"(Playhouse: Live), 'Britz" (Winner of BAFTA,
2008), "Lewis," "Doctors," "Eastenders," "The Bill," "Holby City," "The Last Detective," and "TLC."

Tom McKay's Tricycle appearances include The Great Game: Afghanistan (2009) and Greta Garbo Came to Donegal. His theatre credits include Frost/Nixon (Donmar Warehouse/West End), Henry V, Mother Clap's Molly House (National Theatre), Macbeth, Lord of The Flies (RSC), Shakespeare's R&J (UK Transfer of New York Production), Rough Cuts (Royal Court), Macbeth (Almeida), On The Third Day - Winner of Channel 4's The Play's the Thing (West End), Gladiator Games (Crucible Theatre/Stratford East), Arab-Israeli Cookbook (Gate), and Romeo and Juliet (Tokyo, Japan). His film and television credits include Wrong Turn 3, Clubbed, Imagine Me & You, Chromophobia, "The Little House" (to be aired on ITV in 2011), "Joe's Palace" (BBC/HBO), "Spooks," "New Tricks," "Waterloo Road," "Silent Witness," "Casualty" (all for the BBC), "The Shooting of Thomas Hurndall" (Channel 4), "Octavia," "Primeval" (both ITV), and "Alive" (CHANNEL 4/DISCOVERY).

Daniel Rabin's Tricycle appearances include Chicken Soup With Barley. His theatre credits include The Fever Chart (Trafalgar Studios and Theatre Royal, York), Enemy of the People (Arcola), All Quiet On The Western Front, Chicken Soup With Barley (Nottingham Playhouse), Shoreditch Madonna, Diamond, Jerusalem Syndrome (Soho Theatre), The Last Sortie (The New End), Seven Sonnets Of Michaelangelo (Lyric Hammersmith), and Corpus Christie (Pleasance). His film and television credits include Lilac's Laughter, Mind The Gap, Two's Company, The Penalty King, Slick, Bury It, Susie Gold, "Spooks," "Henry - Mind of a Tyrant," "The Bill," "Casualty," "The Roman Mysteries," "Eastenders," and "Money Can't Buy You Love."

Danny Rahim's Tricycle appearances include The Great Game: Afghanistan (2009). His television credits include "Unforgiven" and "Goodness Gracious Me." He will be making his film debut in Late Bloomers, appearing alongside Isabella Rosselini, due out in spring 2011.

Raad Rawi's Tricycle appearances include Ghandi, Called To Account, Nuremberg, and Half The Picture. His theatre credits include Stuff Happens, Anthony and Cleopatra, The Waiting Room (National), The Fever Chart (York), Medea/Medea (Gate), Invasion (Soho), Electra, King Lear, 5/11 (Chichester), Roman's in Britain, A View From The Bridge (Sheffield), Sara, and Much Ado About Nothing (Cheek by Jowl Tour & West End). Film and television credits include Midnight Express, Misunderstood, The Kingdom, Traitor, Green Zone, the forthcoming The Devils Double, Conan, John Carter of Mars, "Generation Kill," "House of Saddam," "The Tudors," "Spooks MI5," "Wire In The Blood," and "Murphy's Law."

Jemma Redgrave. Her Tricycle appearances include The Great Game: Afghanistan (2009). Additional theatre credits include The Cherry Orchard (Chichester Festival Theatre), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Albery Theatre), Major Barbara (Piccadilly Theatre), Chatsky (Almeida Theatre and tour), and The Three Sisters (Queen's Theatre). Her film and television credits include Lassie, I'll Be There, The Acid House, Howard's End, "Law & Order" (ITV), "Miss Marple" (ITV), "Cold Blood" (Granada), "The Relief of Belsen," "Mansfield Park" (ITV), "The Grid" (Fox/BBC/Carnival), and "Bramwell" (ITV four series).

CLOUDIA SWANN's theatre credits include Of Mice and Men (Dukes, Lancaster). Her film and television credits include Shoot on Sight, Sins of The Father, All Bar Love, Young Hearts Leap, "Demons," "Disconnected," "Bike Squad," "River City," "The Bill," "Dream Team Retro," and "Doctors."

Rick Warden. His Tricycle appearances include The Great Game: Afghanistan (2009) and his theatre credits include Dealer's Choice (National Theatre), Stoning Mary, Sweetheart (Royal Court), and Cue Deadly (Riverside). His film and television credits include Doomsday, Good, Renaissance, Dominion Prequel To the Exorcist, Bride and Prejudice, Imagine Me and You, Honest, "Apparitions," "Rome," "Primeval," "No Angels," "Dunkirk," "Hustle," "Wire In The Blood," "Shackleton," "Dr. Zhivago," "Band of Brothers," "Bravo Two Zeros," "Underground," "Harry Enfield," "Trial & Retribution," "Loved Up," and "Holby City."
The Public Theater (Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director; Andrew D. Hamingson, Executive Director) was founded by Joseph Papp in 1954 and is now one of the nation's preeminent cultural institutions, producing new plays, musicals, and productions of classics at its downtown headquarters and at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. The Public's mandate to create a theater for all New Yorkers continues to this day onstage and through extensive outreach and education programs. Each year, over 250,000 people attend Public Theater-related productions and events at six downtown stages, including Joe's Pub, and Shakespeare in the Park. The Public has won 42 Tony Awards, 151 Obies, 41 Drama Desk Awards and four Pulitzer Prizes. The Public has brought 54 shows to Broadway, including Sticks and Bones; That Championship Season; A Chorus Line; The Pirates of Penzance; The Tempest; Bring In 'Da Noise, Bring In 'Da Funk; On the Town; The Ride Down Mt. Morgan; Topdog/Underdog; Elaine Stritch at Liberty; Take Me Out; Caroline, or Change; Well; Passing Strange; the Tony Award-winning revival of Hair; and this fall, the rock musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson and the 2010 Shakespeare in the Park production of The Merchant of Venice.

THE TRICYCLE THEATER has established a unique reputation for presenting plays that reflect the cultural diversity of its community; in particular plays by Black, Irish, Jewish, Asian and South African writers, as well as for responding to contemporary issues and events with its ground-breaking 'tribunal plays', and political work. The first of its 'Tribunal Plays': Half the Picture (a dramatization of the Scott Arms to Iraq Inquiry), was the first play ever to be performed in the Houses of Parliament. Other notable theatre productions include the British premiere of The Great White Hope by Howard Sackler (later re-staged for the Royal Shakespeare Company) and the world premiere of The Playboy of the West Indies by Mustapha Matura, which subsequently received more than twenty productions all over the world and was televised for BBC Television. West End transfers from the Tricycle also include The Amen Corner by James Baldwin, Ain't Misbehavin' and The Price by Arthur Miller. Transfers to Broadway Kat and the Kings, Stones in His Pockets, and The 39 Steps. The Tricycle is comprised of a theatre, cinema, art gallery, café and bar, which are open all year round and is proud to have its home in the London Borough of Brent.

NEW YORK UNIVERSITY'S Jack H. Skirball CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS is the premier venue for the presentation of cultural and performing arts events for NYU and lower Manhattan. Led by Executive Producer Jay Oliva (President Emeritus, NYU) and Director Michael Harrington, the programs of the Skirball Center reflect NYU's mission as an international center of scholarship, defined by excellence and innovation and shaped by an intellectually rich and diverse environment. A vital aspect of the Center's mission is to build young adult audiences for the future of live performance. www.skirballcenter.nyu.edu.

TICKET INFORMATION

THE GREAT GAME: AFGHANISTAN begins performances at NYU Skirball Center on Wednesday, December 1 and continues through Sunday, December 19 with an official press opening on Tuesday, December 7. Full price tickets begin at $70 for each part of the trilogy; a ticket to all three parts is available for a combined discount price of $145. Public Theater Members receive additional discounts on tickets for THE GREAT GAME: AFGHANISTAN.

Single tickets are on sale now and available at (212) 352-3101, www.publictheater.org, or in person at NYU Skirball Center Box Office.

For more information and complete performance schedule, please visit www.publictheater.org

 

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