An Elysium Theatre Company & Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, Hexham production
THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY PRODUCTION OF THE ISLAND
by Athol Fugard, John Kani and Winston Ntshona
50 years after its premiere in South Africa under the Apartheid regime, Elysium TC toured #TheIsland across the North. Set in a prison cell on Robben Island, the notorious prison where Nelson Mandela was held for years, it tells the story of two inmates, John and Winston, who are serving sentences for political crimes against the Apartheid state. They are rehearsing a two man production of #Antigone as part of an evenings entertainment for their fellow prisoners. Then one day John learns that he is to be released, throwing them both into crisis.
A brilliant play about political resistance, racial oppression and the human spirit, #TheIsland toured to:
Queen’s Hall Arts Centre Hexham, the Princess Alexandra Auditorium in Yarm, Whittingham Memorial Institute, Bardon Mill & Hensham Village Hall, Amble Parish Hall, The Witham in Barnard Castle, Washington Arts Centre, the Exchange, Hull Truck, the Alnwick Playhouse, the Darlington Hippodrome, the Maltings Berwick, Durham School, the Georgian Theatre Royal in Richmond and the The Lowry Manchester
Supported by Durham University and Show Racism The Red Card.
John Ewen Cummins
Winston – Daniel Poyser
Voice of Hodoshe Paul Herzberg
Director Jake Murray
Producer Hannah Ellis Ryan
Set Caitlin Mills and Lee Ward
Costume Anna Hayward
Lighting Mark Turner
Sound Chris Neville-Smith
Music Tayo Akinbode
Movement Jennifer Essex
Production Manager Mark Turner
Stage Manager – Rosie Johnson
Assistant Stage Manager – Paul Barnes
Assistant Directors – Katie Procter and Shehrzadae Moeed.
PR by Rusby Media
With thanks to:
Anna Hayward & Alice Aucott at the Assembly Rooms Theatre and Rory Stuart at the Gala Theatre, Durham