THE ISLAND Comes to Southwark Playhouse this Spring

A Chipping Norton Theatre and Dukes Lancaster production, this powerful drama of defiance and determination is set on Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated for 27 years and is based on the true story of two inmates performing Antigone, the great classical play of political protest.

As John and Winston prepare for the performance with the limited contents of their cell, they debate the merits of their protest and the tension of the uneasy relationship increases when one man finds out he may be granted early release.

The Island, written by Athol Fugard, John Kani and Winston Ntshona was first produced in 1973 under a different title as, for many years, it was forbidden to even mention Robben Island, such was the reputation of its prison.

After premiering in a small Cape Town theatre, it was presented at London's Royal Court and on Broadway cementing its reputation as a modern classic.

After the original South African performance, Kani and Ntshona acted in many of the subsequent productions themselves, jointly winning a Tony Award.

They were arrested multiple times whenever they performed The Island in apartheid era South Africa. They reunited to perform the show in 2000 for the National Theatre, in 2002 for the Old Vic, and in 2004 for the Brooklyn Academy Of Music.

John Terry, who directs the latest version of The Island which premieres at The Dukes in Lancaster on April 27, had the privilege of seeing their Old Vic performance.

'I was astonished at the power and energy of the piece, delivered by just two actors with no set and minimal props. It was a great lesson in the simple gut-wrenching power of theatre, and one that shaped my work ever since.

"Our production, delivered in the round, puts the action amongst the audience. Our design approach is to create a clean, almost Grecian forum in which the sweat of the actors, the plight of the characters, is set before us, literal and unavoidable. These people are just like us. This is not just then, it is now.' John Terry, Director

The Island, which is suitable for ages 12 plus, runs at The Dukes from April 27-May 6 and then tours, supported by Arts Council England, to Chipping Norton Theatre from May 10-20; Tobacco Factory, Bristol from May 23-27 and finally, Southwark Playhouse from May 31-June 24.

For tickets and more information, visit www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk.