11 and 12

11 and 12 tells a modern tale: an accident during prayer leads to a religious debate, then a split which escalates into community conflict. A Western power sticks its nose in, and the story turns truly tragic. Yet this tale is not as contemporary as you might think. The book by Amadou Hampaté Bâ, on […]
Trish Roberts
June 06, 2010

Overview

11 and 12 tells a modern tale: an accident during prayer leads to a religious debate, then a split which escalates into community conflict. A Western power sticks its nose in, and the story turns truly tragic. Yet this tale is not as contemporary as you might think. The book by Amadou Hampaté Bâ, on which this play is based, describes events which unfolded in Mali during the French occupation around the time of the World Wars. Its wisdom is particularly poignant, however, because these situations and ideas are those which we still struggle with and often fail to comprehend.

The production is subtle and slow, requiring great patience from its audiences. We should not be led to think this is a mistake; with extraordinary director Peter Brook at the helm, this tortoise pace is clearly part of the point. That the drama unfolds gently and without much ado is a nod to Tierno Bokar, the Sufi sage of astounding wisdom at the centre of this piece.

To counteract this demand, Brook provides us with the moments of blissful visual beauty for which he is renowned: A set consisting of carved wood, red cloth and African sand is moved and shaped to the plot; a journey in a boat of red cloth is a particular treat. Similarly, the music from long-time collaborator Toshi Tsuchitori is astonishing, moving with the action in profound and unexpected ways. This production is a unique meditation and a privilege to witness. Don't miss your chance to catch one of the few performances while it's here.

Image by Pascal Victor / ArtComArt.

Information

Tap and select Add to Home Screen to access Concrete Playground easily next time. x