With the Young Vic bringing Sweet Nothings, directed by Swiss director Luc Bondy, to the Rose this week, the theatre’s mini-international season continues with the arrival of Peter Brook’s latest production 11 and 12 on Tuesday.

In the show, a cast of seven bring to life the true story of a conflict in a Mali under French occupation, during which time a dispute over whether a certain prayer should be recited 11 or 12 times led to terrible acts of violence.

One of the stars of 11 and 12, Tunji Lucas, 22, says a research trip to the West African country helped the company get to grips with a play that examines that vexed issue of religion.

He says: “In Mali, I went to all the places I talk about in the play. It’s been a gradual process of letting everything arrive so we could fully understand the language and the words we are saying.

“The message of the play is not to answer any questions we have about Islam or anything else that is happening in the world right now, but it does relate to issues we face now and how little things can blow up in to big problems.”

Lucas, who moved from Nigeria to London at the age of one, says he loves the fact that, by playing narrator Hampate Ba, he is a central part of 11 and 12.

He adds: “The narrator is a nice position to be in – you enjoy telling the story. You feel intimate at the moment the show is going on with everybody in the cast and the audience.”

The production, adapted by Marie-Hélène Estienne from the work of Amadou Hampâté Bâwas, sees director Brook, 85, continue to develop the brand of innovative, storytelling theatre for which he is renowned – a vision that was set out in his seminal 1968 book, The Empty Space.

How did Lucas find the experience of working with a director who brought such a mighty reputation with him to the rehearsal room? “It has been great learning experience,” he says.

“I have met many people and my eyes have been opened in many different ways. His approach is not so different to some of the other people I’ve worked with, but the difference comes in his style. He is very relaxed – the whole improvisiation thing is real with him. He lets things happen and I like that.”

11 and 12, The Rose Theatre, Kingston, April 27-May 1, for more information and to book, visit rosetheatrekingston.org