Writer: Jack MacGregor
Director: Fraser Scott
A researcher from Scotland arrives on Saint John, a remote British Overseas Territory in the South Pacific, only to find the island firmly under the grip of a religious cult. What begins as an academic study quickly devolves into a gripping interrogation of control, faith, and systemic abuse at the edge of the world. Written by Fringe First-winner Jack MacGregor, Prophets is a masterclass in psychological tension and atmospheric storytelling.
The two performances at the core of the show are outstanding. Rebecca Wilkie brings a compelling, vulnerable determination to Kerris, while Xander Cowan seamlessly shifts between multiple islanders and Kerris’s boyfriend back home. The rapid transitions, watching Kerris clash with an islander one second and plead down a phone line with Cowan in the next, keep the emotional stakes dangerously high. The audience is kept on edge, desperate to piece together the truth behind the mysterious Joe and the island’s impending “day of paradise.”
The scenic and technical design is brilliantly minimalist yet intensely evocative. A patch of black rubber grit sits at the centre of the stage, evoking ash and burnt remnants, surrounded by a clear tarpaulin and white plastic garden chairs. Paired with a striking lighting design, the ambient soundscape of crashing waves and haunting religious hymns creates an environment that feels simultaneously eerie, welcoming, and bone-chillingly cold.
Prophets is a chilling piece of theatre that grips from its opening moments and refuses to let go. Powered by two extraordinary performances and a flawless sense of atmosphere, it stands out as an unquestionable highlight of this year’s festival.
Runs until 31 August 2026 | Image: Contributed
