Outlying Islands – Jermyn Street Theatre, London

Writers: David Greig

Director: Jessica Lazar

What happens on outlying islands, away from the prying eyes of the world?

Outlying Islands, originally written by Scottish playwright David Greig in 2002, is a deeply exploratory play that asks many questions about our relationship to the natural world. Directed by Jessica Lazar, most recently known for directing Bellringers and Sap, this new revival production takes the tiny Jermyn Street Theatre stage by storm, quite literally.

On the eve of the Second World War, Robert, played by Bruce Langley, and John, played by Fred Woodley-Evans, are sent from London to a remote Scottish island to conduct ornithological research into the seabirds that call this harsh place home. But the birds aren’t the only inhabitants of the island. Old man Kirk (Kevin McMonagle) owns the island with his young niece Ellen (Whitney Kehinde), proving both an obstacle and an opportunity for the young men.

The text delves into themes of isolation and observation, what it means to be seen by roaming eyes for the purposes of science or satisfaction. The plot takes unpredictable turns, challenging the characters with new status quos that bring up darker inhibitions. The looming presence of the war is handled well, drawing interesting parallels with our contemporary times as the ecological threat of man-made war rears its ugly head even before the invention of the atom bomb.

Langley and Woodley-Evans shine as our two leads, deftly drawing in the audience with their opposing personalities. Langley’s charisma is wholly believable, exacting the same effect that he has upon the other characters on the audience too. McMonagle’s appearance as the uncle brims with vitality from the moment he enters to the moment he departs, possessing his place on this island with a high degree of credibility. Unfortunately, Kehinde proves the weakest link in the cast, as her performance feels at odds with the rest of the cast at times, with her progression from shy village girl to self-certain woman proving difficult to get behind.

Anna Lewis’ set design, coupled with sound design by Christopher Preece, go a long way to create a sense of immersion. Mainly set within the confines of an old pagan church made into a den, the sense of the elements beating upon our characters is constantly present. The sound of birds chirping and shrieking is perfectly executed – an important element for this play’s main theme. Possibly there could be more creative ways of showing the birds, however.

Outlying Islands by David Grieg is a well-written two-act play that captures the audience’s imagination with its high degree of believability.

Runs until 15 March 2025