A PLAY set on the island where Nelson Mandela spent nearly 20 years in prison will tour Northumberland venues.
Set on Robben Island, The Island will tour Hexham and Bardon Mill on the fiftieth anniversary of its first staging in apartheid South Africa.
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Elysium Theatre Company brings The Island, by Athol Fugard, to 15 venues across the north, half a century after its first performance in Cape Town in 1973.
Set in the notorious prison for political prisoners on Robben Island, ‘The Island’ was inspired by real life experiences of black anti-apartheid activists, including Nelson Mandela, who was imprisoned there for 18 years.
The two-person play came to England after its debut at Cape Town, where it made theatrical history by being part of a season which defied apartheid’s racial laws banning black and white people from working together.
It became part of a global anti-apartheid protest, with campaigners distributing pamphlets outside the Royal Court Theatre on its first UK run.
Jake Murray, Elysium co-founder and artistic director said: “It’s an important show as it’s the 50th anniversary of The Island being performed for the first time in South Africa.
“It was an incredibly important play during the fight against apartheid and has been seen all over the world, including two international tours with its original cast.
“Now apartheid is long gone we can look at it again and see it as a universal metaphor for political crises all over the world and a cry for freedom we can all understand.
“The world has changed massively, but the legacy of apartheid and colonialism stays with us, and racial and political division is back on the world stage. Elysium’s production, touring exclusively in the north, gives us a chance to look at the play once more, see how far we have come and also look at what hasn’t changed.
“We’re very proud to have bagged it on its 50th anniversary, and to be bringing it to the north. It’s our biggest tour yet, with 15 venues all across the North East."
It will be performed at The Queen's Hall, Hexham from February 15 to 17 and Bardon Mill and Henshaw Village Hall on February 25.
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