The Invisible Hand

A provocative new political thriller by Ayad Akhtar

9th May – 6th June 2018

A co-production with the Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara

Ayad Akhtar, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Disgraced, spins a provocative drama about how fanatical devotion—whether it’s to the scripture or to the dollar—can often lead to devastating consequences. American banker Nick Bright finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time when an Islamist militant group kidnaps him in Pakistan. When the United States won’t negotiate for his release, Nick offers to raise the $10 million ransom on his own by teaching his quick-tempered captor Bashir how to play the stock market. While Nick and Bashir clash over their worldviews, Bashir proves to be an adept student of capitalism. In a race against the clock to save his own life, Nick must ask: is the price of freedom something he’s willing to pay?

Ayad Akhtar, Autor des mit dem Pulitzer-Preis 2013 ausgezeichneten „Disgraced“ (am ETF 2016), schafft ein provokatives Drama, über die fanatische Hingabe – ob nun zur Heiligen Schrift oder zum Dollar – und die zerstörerischen Folgen.

Der amerikanische Bankier Nick Bright ist zur falschen Zeit am falschen Ort. Er wird von einer militanten islamistischen Gruppe in Pakistan entführt. Auf sich gestellt bietet er den Terroristen an, die $ 10 Millionen Lösegeld an der Börse selbst zu erwirtschaften. Teil der Bedingung ist es, seinen aufbrausenden Wärter Bashir in die Geheimnisse des Wertpapiermarktes einzuweihen. Auch wenn beider Weltansichten unvereinbar scheinen, erweist sich Bashir als fähiger Schüler des Kapitalismus. Um sein eigenes Leben zu retten muss sich Nick in einem Rennen gegen die Zeit fragen: Ist Freiheit ein Preis, den er bereit ist zu zahlen?

A POWERFUL and TRANSFIXING piece of theater. The New York Times

Ayad Akhtar’s thriller is right on the money. The Guardian

Ingenious plot, excellent acting… What’s not to like? The Times

High-voltage, fast-moving. The Daily Telegraph

Ensemble Theatre Company began as the Ensemble Theatre Project in 1978 under the direction of Joseph Hanreddy. For the first three years, plays were performed at Trinity Episcopal Church. In 1981, ETC made the 140-seat Alhecama Theatre its home for more than 25 years. Beginning in 2009, ETC undertook a $12.6 million renovation of the Victoria Hall Theater. It opened its new 300-seat home, the New Vic, in 2013. The New Vic has become a venue for dance, music, film, and lectures. After Joseph Hanreddy left Santa Barbara in 1985, Robert Grande Weiss became Artistic Director, a position he held until his retirement in 2006. Jonathan Fox assumed the position of Executive Artistic Director in September 2006 and saw the company through great expansion. Jill Seltzer joined ETC as its Managing Director in 2016. ETC, which became an Equity theater in 1989, is Santa Barbara’s sole professional theater company. The company, which presents five or six plays per season, has produced several American and West Coast premieres and has garnered numerous awards over the years.

Trailer

Flickr