Review: THE ISLAND, Tobacco Factory Bristol

"They sentenced me to life, not to death" is the cry from an increasingly broken Winston in this new production of Fugard's work The Island that he devised with John Kani and Winston Ntshona.

Set on the notorious Robben Island (the prison that held Nelson Mandela) during apartheid, The Island offers a glimpse into the lives of two inmates, John and Winston, who face impossibly long stretches of time under the unspeakably harsh regime.

It opens with a protracted silent sequence of hard labour, as John and Winston are forced to shovel sand on the beach under the South African sun. Their task is merely to pick up the sand and move it a few metres. This is both back- and spirit-breaking work.

As they return to their cells, they tend to the wounds dished out by the guards. The men have developed a kind of fragile brotherhood. They find themselves in an uneasy dichotomy. They want to both keep their defiance of an unjust state (which brought them here), but also stick to the rules and make their time as bearable as possible.

One thing that occupies them is the upcoming performance put on by prisoners where they will present their take on Antigone. As a story about tyranny and the subjective nature of justice and law, it is the perfect allegory for their situation. Played in the round, this production achieves the perfect goldfish bowl effect for critical observation.

The friendship is tested to its extreme when John learns his appeal is successful and he will be released soon. The happiness on the face of Winston for his friend is tempered with the hopelessness of his own situation. It's a heartbreaking moment.

Edward Dede as Winston and Mark Springer as John both deliver powerful performances with depth and honesty. They manage to generate the unique feeling of a relationship built over years in a pressured and unnatural environment. John Terry's raised square staging works well to enhance the intensity of the situation, and while sometimes the pace does drop a little, it remains a devastating and compelling watch.

This most political of plays has not lost its verve since its premiere in 1973. As John says, "it doesn't matter if they laugh at the beginning, as long as they listen at the end."

The Island at Tobacco Factory Theatres until 27 May

Photo credit: Joel Fildes

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