Jenin Freedom Theatre Touring US in September with ‘The Island’

The Jenin Freedom Threatre will be performing an adaptation of Athol Fugard’s “The Island” in the US this September, kicking off at Brown University on September 11:

The-Island-V-54145_200x200According to The Freedom Theatre:

The Island is a revolutionary South African apartheid-era drama, inspired by a true story. The Island 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 play to reflect experience of Palestinian political prisoners within Israeli prisons, and it was performed to sold-out houses in the Jenin refugee camp in Arabic. The ensemble then re-adapted the play into English to be performed in Jenin (March 2013), Sweden (April-May 2013), Brazil (August 2012), and the U.S.

The first showing is at Brown University on Wednesday, September 11 at 7 p.m. You can book tickets here and follow more about the theatre on Facebook.

A video trailer for the Arabic staging:

Thanks to Barbara Skubic for the tip.