SUPPRESSION AND EXPRESSION: THE LOUD AND SILENCED VOICES IN ATHOL FUGARD, JOHN KANI AND WINSTON NTSHONA’S THE ISLAND.

The Island (like Sizwe Bansi) was collaboratively devised in workshop by Fugard, Kani and Ntshona. The play is a gripping tale of incarceration, torture, abuse, desperation, and anxiety. It traces the condition of the political prisoners, John and Winston, on Robben Island – an ominous dead-end where life and dignity were snuffed out of black political prisoners and extra-parliamentarians. John was originally played by John Kani and Winston by Winston Ntshona. The Island was first performed underground on 2 July 1973 – in front of a small audience, mostly members of The Space Theatre in Cape Town. It had to be kept low so as to avoid publicity that may lead to censorship, banning or arrest. It was the first play to openly discuss the condition of South African political prisoners on Robben Island.