The Island

About

The Island is a South African play that premiered in Cape Town in 1973. The play is based on a true story set in apartheid-era South Africa, on the country's infamous Robben Island - a prison where Nelson Mandela was held for 27 years. The plight of the characters in The Island is set up as a comparison of sorts with that of Sophocles' ancient Greek tragedy, Antigone. Nominated for numerous awards, including the Tony Award for Best Play, The Island was, and remains a revelatory statement about the tragedies and injustices of apartheid in South Africa.