By Sarah Zeppel
Set on the remote Scottish island of Kinnan, Islander follows Eilidh, a young girl who discovers a beached whale which she is unable to save. Shortly afterwards, a mysterious girl washes ashore. As the only child left on Kinnan, Eilidh is immediately intrigued by the stranger, and a connection quickly develops between the two girls.
As the community gradually abandons Kinnan for the mainland, those who remain must decide whether to leave their home behind or fight to preserve their island community. Eilidh's sense of abandonment is particularly personal, as her mother has left her in the care of her elderly grandmother. The island's remaining residents, each with their own unique and quirky personalities, bring humour and complexity to a story about isolation, change and belonging.
Originally a Scottish production, Islander has been reimagined within an Australian Pacific Islander context, incorporating Samoan cultural perspectives through its choice of casting and collaboration with Satiu Productions, a Pasifika-led creative company. This adaptation provides an opportunity to explore the consequences of people leaving island communities, raising questions about who stays, who leaves, and what happens to those left behind. By placing these questions within a Pacific Islander context, the production encourages audiences to reflect on the significance of community, cultural identity and the connections that tie people to their homes.
At the heart of the production is the friendship between Eilidh, played by Rebecca Ordiz, and Aran, played by Georgia Laga'aia. Their relationship highlights the importance of female friendship and connection, as the girls help each other navigate their identities and reconnect with their families. Their immediate bond offers a source of comfort within the island's increasingly dwindling community, demonstrating how meaningful relationships can help people confront feelings of abandonment and uncertainty.
The versatility of Ordiz and Laga'aia is another highlight of the production. Both actors take on a range of roles, expanding the world of the performance beyond its two-person cast. Their character transformations bring humour and personality to the island's remaining inhabitants, while demonstrating their impressive range as performers. By creating an entire community through only two actors, the production ensures its sense of intimacy without sacrificing the richness of its fictional world.
This intimacy is further enhanced by the staging. The close relationship between the performers and the audience creates an environment that complements the production's emphasis on human connection. Rather than relying on an elaborate set, the performance allows the actors, their movements and their voices to carry much of the storytelling. This stripped-back approach reinforces the isolation of the island while keeping the emotional relationships at the centre of the experience.
The production's soundscape is equally engaging, using loop-pedal technology to layer the actors' live voices into a rich and immersive auditory experience. Developed through the work of music director Lauren Shaw and sound designer Otto Zagala, this technique allows the performers to create music and atmosphere in real time. The use of their own voices makes the soundscape feel closely connected to the characters and their environment, transforming a small cast into something that feels much larger. The lighting and sound also contribute to the storytelling, allowing these technical elements to help communicate the separation between characters and their different environments.
Ultimately, Islander transforms an intimate story of friendship into a broader reflection on community, cultural identity and belonging. Through its Pacific Islander adaptation, versatile performances and inventive use of live sound, the production explores the emotional consequences of leaving home and the importance of maintaining connections with others. By bringing these themes to life through an intimate and imaginative theatrical experience, Islander encourages audiences to reflect on what is lost when communities are abandoned, but also on the relationships that are formed despite these challenges. It is a reminder that our sense of belonging is not defined solely by where we come from, but by the people, stories and cultural connections that continue to shape who we are.
Production credits:
Written by Amy Draper, Finn Anderson & Stewart Melton
Directed by Hayden Tonazzi