The Île of Joans rests witty in Sandton

Theatre productions are always a treat to experience, especially when they’re as relatable as theatremaker Sophie Joans’ award-winning production, Île.

Joans uses her body to act out how the landmass of Mauritius formed millions of years ago, weaving her own origin story into that of the island. Using her body and voice, she narrates her upbringing and family dynamic, leading into the tale about her visit to and return from Mauritius – the country of her familial roots.

Joans, who wrote the play, introduces audiences to how amazing theatre productions can be when they incorporate evidence of performance studies.

The production wittily tackles a wide range of hard-conversation topics in a mature, respectful way, touching on topics such as being related to paedophiles, healing from mental health issues and family trauma, rape culture, and sneaking back in late after a night out.

With a nuanced spirit of honesty, Île also hilariously tells the story of a descendant of pirates and slavers who came to call Mauritius home.

“I don’t know how else to deal with it than to talk about it, kind of. It’s the truth, what else am I going to be like? Pretend my ancestors were one of the good ones? No, they weren’t,” Joans said after the opening show on March 27.

Following an international run of 73 shows, Sandton’s Theatre on the Square was honoured to host the last showing.

“We launched in Makhanda at the National Arts Festival in 2022, then we went to Cape Town before I did Durban and the Hilton Festival,” said Joans.
“I went to do a short run in London last year, and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where I did 28 shows every day for an entire month; if anything up-skilled me, it was that run.”

Île closed on April 6, leaving behind a strong legacy built over two years. Directed by Rob van Vuuren, this one-woman-play blended elements from Jerzy Grotowski’s ‘poor theatre’ and Mary Wigman’s therapy through dramatic expression to tell the story of a young woman finding out who she is by learning about where she comes from.

“The play was an interesting form for her to use the stage to explore her experiences,” said first-time theatre-goer Itumeleng Tlou. “I wasn’t expecting it to be a therapy session for her, but it was enjoyable. Overall, seven out of 10.”

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