In this Australian premiere for Brisbane Festival 2008 Peter Brook directs The Grand Inquisitor, a gripping monologue exploring religious belief, human freedom, compassion, weakness and the abuse of power.

“The action takes place in Spain, in Seville during the most terrible period of the Inquisition, when each day fires were lit to the glory of God, and in splendid auto da fés monstrous heretics were burnt. Christ comes back to the world of man.

At that moment, the cardinal Grand Inquisitor crosses the square. He is an old man, nearly ninety, with a withered face and sunken eyes in which a light still gleams. He points with his finger, ordering the guards to seize Him.

The Guards take hold of Him and in a deadly silence lead him away. Then, like one man, the crowd bows down to the ground before the old Inquisitor, who blesses them without a word and goes on his way. The prisoner is taken to the dark old palace of the Holy Office and shut in a narrow vaulted cell.”

From The Grand Inquisitor in ‘The Brothers Karamazov’ by Fiodor Dostoyevsky

“Exquisite, glowing…from first to last, this was a spellbinding evening."
The Independent

"This is an extraordinary performance not to be missed."
The Sunday Times

FEATURING

DIRECTOR: Peter Brook
AUTHOR: Fiodor Dostoyevsky
ADAPTATION: Marie-Hélène Estienne
LIGHTING DESIGN: Philippe Vialatte
CAST: Bruce Myers, Jochaim Zuber

Acknowledgements

Produced by C.I.C.T/Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord