Categories: Events

South African Play ÎLE to Grace UK Stages

The award-winning South African play ÎLE, which received a Gold Ovation Award at the National Arts Festival, is set to make its way to UK stages in the coming months. The comedic coming-of-age story has been a hit on the South African theatre scene and will soon be showcased at Riverside in London as part of the BiteSize Fest. In August, it will also feature at the world-renowned Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The Story of ÎLE

ÎLE tells the story of an 18-year-old girl who embarks on a journey to her ancestral home in Mauritius. Mauritius is a picturesque tourist destination with a complex colonial past, where the French established a lucrative sugar industry using slave labor. Sophie Joans, an award-winning young theatre maker who wrote and performs the play, drew inspiration from her own experiences as a Cape Town native with grandparents who fled Mauritius’ white elite and settled in South Africa.

Sophie’s character seeks to understand the generational rage that runs through her maternal line as she ventures to the island to explore her roots and distance herself from her mother. As she uncovers peculiar characters, such as domineering matriarchs, uncomfortably close cousins, and family secrets, she realizes that beneath the idyllic surface of the island, a volcano waits to erupt.

The Play’s Success

After its premiere at South Africa’s Fringe Festival in 2022, where it won Gold, Sophie Joans received nominations for prestigious South African accolades, including Best Actress at Woordfees 2022 and a Fleur de Cap for Best Performance in a One-person Show.

Sophie’s background as a stand-up comedian shines through in ÎLE’s storytelling style. The play also showcases explosive physical theatre, the signature style of South African comedy legend and ÎLE director Rob van Vuuren.

Critical Acclaim

Critics have praised ÎLE, with Dave Mann from The Critter describing it as a “hell of a play” with exceptional writing that keeps the story fast-paced and entertaining. The Cape Robyn called ÎLE a “deliciously captivating piece of theatre” that is “uplifting, funny, and inspiring,” while Siobhan Cassidy from Call Off The Search lauded the play’s “slick and funny” writing and satisfying resolution to the story’s various plotlines and subplots.