Nicolas Kent and Indhu Rubasingham direct the 12-play event presented in three parts, which began previews Dec. 1 and will run through Dec. 19. The work explores Afghanistan's history since Westerners first became involved in the country in 1842 to the present day.

The cast includes Daniel Betts, Sheena Bhattessa, Michael Cochrane, Karl Davies, Vincent Ebrahim, Nabil Elouahabi, Shereen Martineau, Tom McKay, Daniel Rabin, Danny Rahim, Raad Rawi, Jemma Redgrave, Cloudia Swann and Rick Warden.

Contributing playwrights include Lee Blessing, David Edgar, Simon Stephens, Richard Bean, David Greig, Amit Gupta, Ron Hutchinson, Stephen Jeffreys, Abi Morgan, Ben Ockrent, Colin Teevan and Joy Wilkinson.

Here's how the Public describes the plays:

Part 1: Invasions & Independence – 1842-1930: Starts with the first Anglo-Afghan War of 1842 and moves to Afghan independence in the 1920s. Part 2: Communism, The Mujahideen & The Taliban – 1979-1996: Continues the story from the Russian invasion, through to US/CIA arming of the Mujahideen to the coming of the Taliban.

Part 3: Enduring Freedom – 1996-2010: Starts with the events leading up to September 9, 2001 in Northern Afghanistan, through to the overthrow of Taliban, the aid agencies working in the country and the current war against the insurgents.

A series of post-show discussions have been planned, including "Camp Victory, Afghanistan" (Dec. 7); "The Road to Governing Afghanistan" (Dec. 9); "Afghanistan After America, America After Afghanistan" (Dec. 14); and "Rights and Development in Afghanistan" (Dec. 17).

For tickets phone (212) 352-3101 or visit PublicTheater. Tickets are also available at the Skirball box office, located at 566 LaGuardia Place at Washington Square South.