OSLO Celebrates International Day of Peace

The critically acclaimed production of Oslo, currently playing to sold-out houses at the National Theatre, transfers to the Harold Pinter Theatre from 2 October until 30 December. A series of special events has been announced to celebrate International Day of Peace on 21 September.

The United Nations has declared 21 September International Day of Peace, a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples. To mark this important day as it observed around the world, the fly-tower of National Theatre will be lit with the word 'PEACE'.

11 October

Gala performance in partnership with Children of Peace and The International Peace Institute to celebrate the opening of 'Oslo' in the West End.

Children of Peace is a UK based non-partisan, international conflict resolution organisation founded by its President Richard Martin in 2004. It aims to build friendship, trust and reconciliation between Israeli and Palestinian children regardless of culture, community, faith or gender, aged 4-17 through arts, education, healthcare and sports projects in the region so that a future generation and their communities might live in peace, side-by-side. The organisation's Coalition of Peace is now, the single largest peace network across the Middle East with over 260 affiliates in Bahrain, Egypt, Gaza, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Turkey and the West Bank. www.childrenofpeace.org.uk

The International Peace Institute (IPI) of which Terje Rød-Larsen is President, is an independent, international not-for-profit think tank dedicated to managing risk and building resilience to promote peace, security, and sustainable development. To achieve its purpose, IPI employs a mix of policy research, strategic analysis, publishing, and convening. With staff from more than twenty countries and a broad range of academic fields, IPI has offices facing United Nations headquarters in New York and offices in Vienna and Manama. www.ipinst.org

17 October

A pre-performance discussion 'Can We Bring Peace Between Enemies' held in conjunction with Intelligence Squared with speakers including Jonathan Freedland (Chair) Guardian columnist, broadcaster and author, William Sieghart Founder and Chairman of Forward Thinking, an NGO which works with the leadership of all parties on both sides of the divide in the Israel/Palestine conflict and Jamie Rubin Assistant Secretary of State and Chief Spokesman for the US State Department under Madeleine Albright from 1997-2000, during a major Clinton administration push for an Israel-Palestine peace deal. Tickets £15. 5.30pm

Intelligence Squared is the world's premier forum for debate and intelligent discussion. Live and online taking audiences to the heart of the issues that matter, in the company of some of the world's sharpest minds and most exciting orators.

Intelligence Squared Live events have captured the imagination of public audiences for more than a decade, welcoming the biggest names in politics, journalism and the arts. A celebrated list of speakers includes President Jimmy Carter, Stephen Fry, Patti Smith, Richard Dawkins, Sean Penn, Marina Abramovic, Werner Herzog, Terry Gilliam, Anne Marie Slaughter, Reverend Jesse Jackson, Mary Beard, Yuval Noah Harari, Jonathan Franzen, Salman Rushdie, Eric Schmidt, Richard Branson, Professor Brian Cox, Nate Silver, Umberto Eco, Martin Amis and Grayson Perry.

Oslo, J.T. Rogers' gripping new play, directed by Bartlett Sher, was awarded 'Best Play' at the 2017 Tony Awards and was winner of every 'Best Play' award on Broadway this season, including those given by New York Drama Critics' Circle, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle , Drama League, Obie and Lucille Lortel Awards.

In 1993, in front of the world's press, the leaders of Israel and Palestine shook hands on the lawn of the White House. Few watching would have guessed that the negotiations leading up to this iconic moment started secretly in a castle in the middle of a forest outside Oslo.

Oslo tells the true story of how one young Norwegian couple Mona Juul and her husband, Terje Rød-Larsen planned and orchestrated top-secret, high-level meetings between the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organisation, which culminated in the signing of the historic 1993 Oslo Accords. Featuring dozens of characters and set in locations across the globe, Oslo is both a political thriller and the personal story of a small band of women and men struggling together - and fighting each other - as they seek to change the world. (Mona Juul is currently the Norwegian Ambassador to the UK - the first woman to occupy the role).

The cast also includes Geraldine Alexander, Philip Arditti, Thomas Arnold, Nabil Elouahabi , Karoline Gable, Paul Herzberg, Jacob Krichefski, Yair Jonah Lotan, Anthony Shuster, Daniel Stewart and Howard Ward.

Oslo is written by J T Rogers and directed by Bartlett Sher, with sets by Michael Yeargan, costumes by Catherine Zuber, lighting by Donald Holder, sound by Peter John Still and projections by 59 Productions.

Oslo is produced in association In association with Ambassador Theatre Group/Gavin Kalin Productions/Glass Half Full Productions.

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