“He said, ‘The day will come when they don’t cut our heads off in front of people.’ And I asked him, ‘Why?’ And he said, ‘Because we’ll cut them off ourselves.’”
A lecturer in Chile.
A study group in the USA.
A guard in the desert.
A hangman in Mexico.
A woman who won’t stop dancing in Peru.
Pablo Manzi’s darkly comic odyssey across the Americas explores whether violence brings us closer together and what it takes to make a community.
Developed on a residency at the Royal Court, A Fight Against…marks the English language debut of one of Chile’s most significant new voices. Royal Court Associate (International) Sam Pritchard directs.
Q&A with Writer, Pablo Manzi. Chaired by Royal Court Literary Manager, Jane Fallowfield. With translation from A Fight Against… Assistant Director, Mariana Aristizábal Pardo.
The development of A Fight Against… was supported by the British Council.
Teatro a Mil Foundation is a project partner.
Post-show Talk Wed 12 Jan
Translation, Performance, Perception: Staging Latin America. This event is free with a ticket to that evening’s performance.
Chaired by A Fight Against… translator William Gregory, with speakers Dr Almiro Andrade, Malú Ansaldo, Mariana Aristizábal Pardo and Professor Catherine Boyle. The panel will explore Pablo Manzi’s ‘odyssey across the Americas’ in the wider context of Latin American theatre – and Latin American theatre-makers – on the UK stage today.
"The performances are excellent and the topics are important; I could have watched more."
WhatsOnStage | Nicole Acquah Read full review
"Direction from Sam Pritchard confidently steers a strong ensemble cast of six, as they deftly multi-role between a revolving door of characters whose lives have been impacted by violence."
Evening Standard | Farah Najib Read full review
"Sam Pritchard’s understated production revels in the deadpan comedy and jagged stylistic shifts – each deftly realised tableau seems to inhabit its own tonal microclimate."
The Daily Telegraph | Claire Allfree Read full review
'A bulletin from Chile arrives in A Fight Against . . . (Una Lucha Contra . . .), a sharp splinter of a play by Pablo Manzi, written before the country’s recent seismic election but perhaps catching something of the spirit leading up to it.
Financial Times l Sarah Hemming Read full review
"Manzi's exploration of the difference between 'you and me' and 'us' in the face of violence is thought provoking, darkly entertaining and well worth catching."
Morning Star | Simon Parsons Read full review
"Manzi’s is a play about disenfranchisement, and how humans seek community in strange and unexpected places. It has universal resonance, despite its specific geography."
The Reviews Hub | Mike Wells Read full review
"There’s something mesmerising in its matter-of-fact handling of frightening absurdities, which mount with a dark and creeping power."
The i | Sam Marlowe Read full review
"This is a scorching series of portraits built on questions of how we organize ourselves and who we choose as our enemies."
Exeunt Magazine | Brendan Macdonald Read full review
Jerwood Theatre Upstairs
Mon – Sat: 7:45pm (except 14 Dec 7pm)
Thu & Sat matinees: 3pm (from 16 Dec)
Running time is 1 hour 15 minutes, no interval and no re-entry.
This production contains haze, smoking on stage and open flames are used.
We require all audience members, unless medically exempt, to wear face coverings throughout the venue and in the auditorium, out of respect for others, and in support of the cast. Read full details about your visit to the Royal Court here.
The play will be performed in English.
On Friday 21 January 2022, 7.45pm the performance will have Spanish surtitles.
Información sobre A Fight Against…….(Una Lucha Contra…) y la función en español
Access Performances
Captioned: Fri 14 Jan at 7:45pm, Sat 22 Jan at 3pm (English), Fri 21 Jan at 7:45pm (Spanish)
Relaxed Environment: Sat 15 Jan at 3pm
Trigger warnings for productions
Image credit: Patrick Zachmann/Magnum Photos
Extras
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