Working with Peter Brook, according to one of the actors in his latest production, is like setting out on a "momentous journey."

"This is diametrically opposite to anything I have done before," says Asil Rais, who plays Rosencrantz in Brook's version of Hamlet.

"This is not the theater that I'm used to -- but every actor should definitely do Shakespeare."

Rais, 38, only joined the company 10 days before its departure for the Japan leg of a six-country tour, but he is reveling in the chance to explore what he describes as "a very pure form of theater." "It is not at all the classical Shakespeare production of 'Hamlet'," he says. "Peter has broken all the cliches in respect to Shakespeare; he has adapted the text, made it much shorter and has got rid of all the preconceived notions.

"He uses an open stage, he believes in an open space, with just a carpet and a musician, and then the players come in," he says.

"Of course he loves Shakespeare and he loves 'Hamlet,' but he is more concerned about human feelings; the family in the play could be anywhere," he adds.

The play is the first time that Paris-based Rais has acted in English -- he usually performs in French -- but he dreams of adapting one of Shakespeare's works into a version that would appeal to audiences in India, his homeland.

"Doing this play is not easy," he says. "It takes a lot of work, a lot of rigor and concentration to get into this world, this universe."

But the way it has been received has made it more than worthwhile, he says.

"We had a very strong reception; it was sold out in advance and there were a lot of youngsters in the crowd," he says.

"The Japanese have always loved Peter's work; almost all his plays are invited to Japan and they always do very well."