The Island was co-authored by Athol Fugard, John Kani, and Winston Ntshona, and first performed at The Space Theatre in Cape Town, South Africa in 1973. All three authors are South African playwrights with deep roots in the country's film and entertainment industry. Overall, their early work, including The Island, included anti-apartheid and politically-charged sentiments.
Athol Harold Lannigan Fugard was born in Middleburg, South Africa on June 11, 1932. Fugard identified as an Afrikaner and was of Irish and English decent. After completing his primary and secondary education, Fugard enrolled at the University of Cape Town, but withdrew in 1953. Following his stint in college, Fugard...
