The Freedom Threatre will soon embark on a US tour with our adaptation of Athol Fugard’s The Island. The tour kicks off at UConn’s Katter Theater on September 6, at 7 pm.

The Island is one of The Freedom Theatre’s most recent successes, performed in Arabic to sold-out houses in Jenin refugee camp during the winter and spring. It is set in a prison and revolves around two cellmates: one who is soon to be released while the other is serving a life sentence. They spend their days at mind-numbing physical labour and at night rehearse for a performance of Sophocles’ Antigone. Antigone, who defies the laws of the state to follow her conscience, and her uncle who sentences her to die for her crime. Is Antigone guilty? Who decides?

The Freedom Theatre adapted the original South African play to reflect experience of Palestinian political prisoners within Israeli prisons. The ensemble then re-adapted the play into English to be performed in the US in September.

Performances:

  • Nafe Katter Theatre of Connecticut Repertory Theatre, University of Connecticut, 802 Bolton Rd. Storrs, CT
    September 6, at 7 pm, September 7, at 2 pm and 7 pm
    For tickets call 860-486-2113
  • Granoff Center for the Creative Arts Studio 1, Brown University 154 Angell St. Providence, RI
    September 11, at 7 pm
    Book tickets here
  • Devine Studio Theatre, Davis Performing Arts Center, Georgetown University, 37th and O St. NW Washington, DC
    September 16 and 17, at 7:30 pm
    For tickets contact performingarts.georgetown.edu
  • New York Theatre Workshop, 4th Street Theatre 83 E. 4th St., New York, N.Y.
    September 25, 26, and 27, at 7 pm, September 28, at 2 pm
    (Note: the September 28 performance will be in Arabic.)
    For tickets, contact friends@thefreedomtheatre.org.


Read more about our version of The Island here.

The Island is supported by Sida, as part of the PAN program, and the Swedish Postcode Lottery. The US tour is arranged by the US Friends of the Jenin Freedom Theatre and produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc., New York City, and Co-sponsored by the Connecticut Repertory Theatre; Department of Theatre Arts and Performance Studies, Brown University; Georgetown University Davis Performing Arts Center; and the New York Theatre Workshop.

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