The Market Theatre, Johannesburg presents

The Island

Available for international touring on request

Small to medium scale

Set in apartheid South Africa, The Island focuses on the lives of two political prisoners incarcerated on South Africa's notorious Robben Island prison, as they prepare to do a two-person performance of Sophocles' Antigone for other inmates and prison staff.

The play examines the bonds and tensions between cellmates Winston and John as they labour in the stone quarry by day and rehearse Antigone by night - culminating in the actual performance, where the audience for The Island becomes the audience for Antigone.

During Nelson Mandela's 27-year imprisonment on Robben Island, he also staged Antigone - a loaded tribute to "a fellow freedom fighter who deliberately defies an unjust law". It was a theatrical gesture of defiance. Antigone represented the continuing struggle against an oppressive regime.

Fugard wrote The Island after studying history and stories from Robben Island in an attempt to focus attention on the horrific conditions that black prisoners were forced to endure. The Island delivers its poignant political message with a humour, humanity and sparseness that is so characteristic of township theatre.

an outstanding commentary on the sufferings of wronged humanity A.C. Grayling, Times Online 2002 on The Island

the director and actors can be justly proud of a superb interpretation of a wonderful play. Stephen Exley, Cambridge Evening News September 2005

USA TOUR 2007

28th January: Scottsdale Performing Arts Centre, Arizona, USA

31st January: University of California Santa Barbara, USA

1st February: Riverside Theatre, California, USA