The play, The Island, written by Athol Fugard, John Kani and Winston Ntshona, is being performed by students of the Department of Drama and Production Studies at DUT from Monday (17 March 2014) to Friday 21 March 2014 at the Arthur Smith Hall, DUT City Campus, Anton Lembede (Smith) Street.

The production is directed by Professor Brian Pearce, Associate Professor in the Drama Studies and is mounted to celebrate Human Rights Day and 20 years of democracy in South Africa.

The performances are mounted in association with Art for Humanity and Democracy Development Programme. The play was first performed in a production directed by Athol Fugard in 1973. The plot revolves around two prisoners on Robben Island; John and Winston, who are rehearsing an adaptation of the classical Greek tragedy, Antigone, by Sophocles, which is to be performed as part of a concert for the other prisoners.

The play dramatizes the conflict between the individual and the state and it brought world attention to the plight of political prisoners in South Africa. The actors, Simemezelo Xulu and Lungani Mabaso, play the roles of John and Winston, who in their turn, play the roles of Creon and Antigone in the play-within-the-play.

Details of the production are as follows:
Date: Monday (17 March 2014) to Friday (21 March 2014)
Time: 18h00 to 19h30
Venue: Arthur Smith Hall, DUT City Campus, Anton Lembede (Smith) Street
Tickets sell for R35.00 for adults and R15 for students.
Parental guidance is advised.

– Sinegugu Ndlovu

Pictured: The actors, Simemezelo Xulu and Lungani Mabaso, who play the roles of John and Winston.