Great Game - Afghanistan, Part Two: Communism, the Mujahideen, and the Taliban (1980-1996) October 22, 2010

This fall, Berkeley Repertory Theatre welcomes 'The Great Game: Afghanistan,' a sweeping cycle of short scripts by 12 top playwrights that caused a sensation in London. Presented in three parts - on different days or in one impassioned marathon - this unprecedented show explores Afghanistan over the last 150 years. A pair of provocative plays, David Edgar's 'Black Tulips' and Lee Blessing's 'Wood for the Fire,' burn up the stage when Soviet troops enter Afghanistan. Are the Russians invited guests or invaders? Who is the actual enemy, and where do they get their weapons? As victory proves elusive, the mission - and the meaning of success - must be redefined. Then, in 'Miniskirts of Kabul' by David Greig, a journalist interviews the country's deposed Communist leader. Their hilarious and horrific conversation covers everything from hemlines to the Kremlin as the Taliban lay siege to the capital. Finally, in 'The Lion of Kabul' by Colin Teevan, two men hired by the United Nations disappear - and only a midnight meeting can reveal their fate. Two decades of turmoil ignite your curiosity and compassion in this thrilling series of shows.