The Island is an apartheid-era drama, inspired by a true story. Set in an unnamed prison clearly based on South Africa's notorious Robben Island, the play focuses on two cellmates who spend their days performing futile physical labor and nights rehearsing in their cell for a performance of Sophocles' Antigone, paralleling Antigone's situation and the situation of black political prisoners.

After successful runs in Cape Town in 2017 and 2018, the production will be touring to schools around Johannesburg before it will be featured at the Setkání/Encounter Festival in Czech Republic.

Audience Responses

Exceptionally strong production of a classic play :)

Absolutely outstanding! We travelled as two teachers with a group of our secondary school learners from St Dunstan's College, and it was an amazing theatre experience shared by all. The venue was professionally run, the performers were exceptional in bringing to life the palpable text devised by Fugard, Ntshona, and Kani, and there was additional time made post-performance to engage the learners in a Q and A with the actors. We look forward to bringing our students to another POPArt theatre production in the near future!

Very beautiful performance

Excellently cast, moving - an incredibly powerful performance.

Superb production with an appreciation for the theory. Chemistry between the actors was outstanding! Well done to all involved!