DramaReviewSouth West

The Island – The Tobacco Factory Theatre, Bristol

Writers: Athol Fugard, John Kani, Winston Ntshona

Director: John Terry

Reviewer: Chris Oldham

Performed in the round on a small square stage, there’s something immediately unapologetic about The Island; both in its simplicity, and its depth.

First produced in 1973 and set on Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, it follows two inmates John (Mark Springer), and Winston (Edward Dede). During the day they’re pushed to breaking point in the quarry, doing hard labour under the watchful eye of a tyrannical prison guard. At night, when they’re locked in their cell together they struggle to come to terms with their incarceration, distracting themselves by preparing a performance of the classical play Antigone for their fellow prisoners and the guards.

Despite an uneasy first ten minutes in which the men shovel gravel in near-silence, The Island is very much a play about language. These are educated men; locked up for unspecified political crimes, or rather, one suspects, the colour of their skin. Springer and Dede are both fine choices for the roles, firing off each other and revving the other one up as they pace the stage. There are moments of tenderness and humour too – often proving the most engaging. As the men’s situations change, so too do their states of mind. Dede imbues Winston with as much raw vulnerability as he does attitude, while Springer is like a caged lion – his mind just as trapped as his physical being.

Surrounding the stage with the audience, John Terry’s sparse direction relies on the strength of the performances to maintain the momentum, while writers Athol Fugard, John Kani, and Winston Ntshona’s script demands our full, unwavering attention – not always easy for over an hour and a half with no interval.

Forcing us to feel the plight of its two protagonists is a bold move, and as a result The Island isn’t always an easy watch. Loosely divided into three parts, the lack of break between each of them means there’s barely a moment to take a breather. The show-within-a-show formula of the third act – the writers’ way of speaking up against the government of the time – sees John and Winston perform to the rest of the prison. It’s here that the parallels between Antigone’s defiance of her King Creon, and their own situations becomes clear. But it’s a lot to ask so late on in the piece.

Sometimes restrained, sometimes furious, The Island isn’t always enjoyable viewing, but it does feel essential – a challenging character study both of the individual, and of humanity during a particularly shameful period of our history.

Runs until 27 May 2017 | Image: Joel Fildes

Review Overview

The Reviews Hub Score

Challenging and Essential

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The Reviews Hub - South West

The Southwest team is under the editorship of John McRoberts. The Reviews Hub was set up in 2007. Our mission is to provide the most in-depth, nationwide arts coverage online.

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