A play review “The Island”
The play The Island was during the 1970s during apartheid in South
Africa. During this time people of colour were going through
oppression. The characters in this play are two political prisoners
Winston and John who were sent to Robben Island. The genre of the
play is Protest Theatre which deals with prejudice, oppression and
disenfranchisement, and Minimalist theatre which has few props,
simple costumes, not complicated sets, basic lighting and minimal
makeup.
These two prisoners where both sentences to Robben Island, Robben
Island was the most secured prison and was feared by many people
in South Africa. Winston was sent to Robben Island because he burnt
his passbook and was sentenced for life. John was sent to Robben
Island because he belonged to a banned organisation and was
sentenced to 10years which was later reduced to 3 years. During
their time in Robben Island, they practiced a play called Antigone.
Antigone is a play about a King named Creon and Antigone is
engaged to Creon’s son. Antigone has two brothers, Eteocles who
fought for Creon and Polynices who didn’t fight for Creon. They both
wanted the throne but ended up dying, they both died fighting for
the throne and ended up killing each other in battle. Antigone tried
to bury her brother Polynices when she was forbidden to. She ended
up getting caught and was sent to a blocked cave so she can starve to
death. When Creon finally changed his mind it was too late because
Antigone had already committed suicide. Haemon who’s Creon son
and his mother both committed suicide out of grief. Creon ended
being left alone.
This play was a warning to apartheid that this is the consequences
when you make decisions when you are in your evil state, you’ll end
up regretting it.
I found the play exquisite and educating at the same time, the play
was produced very well the lighting and costumes were simple but
the production was top tier. I would recommend this play to people
who want to be educated on South Africa’s history.
