The Island: ETHAL Premieres Theatrical Work on Cyprus’s Colonial-Era Trauma and Coexistence

Inspired by real testimonies, the trilingual production explores collective memory and shared humanity.

The FastForward News Team

29 Oct 2025

A powerful new theatre production that sheds light on the unseen dimensions of life and trauma experienced by Cyprus’s two main communities during the British colonial period is coming to the stage of ETHAL Theatre in Limassol.

Titled “The Island”, the play is a co-production between ETHAL and Point To Contemporary, premiering on 6 November, and opening a thought-provoking artistic dialogue on collective memory, violence, and coexistence.

Based on real events and recorded testimonies, The Island draws inspiration from Athol Fugard’s “The Island”, focusing on the collective trauma of Cypriot society.

Through the coexistence of two opposing voices — a Greek Cypriot EOKA fighter and a Turkish Cypriot teacher — the production explores the possibility of reconciliation and acceptance. Rather than offering definitive answers, it invites audiences to observe, reflect, and question.

At the heart of the play are two men sharing the same prison cell in colonial Cyprus between 1955 and 1959. Coming from opposing worlds, Andreas and Ibrahim learn — through violence, isolation, and silence — to recognize the human side of the Other.

Like in an ancient tragedy, one central question dominates: whose justice will prevail?

The performance incorporates all three of the island’s languages — Greek, Turkish, and English — intentionally leaving parts untranslated, compelling the audience to experience the difficulty of communication and to participate emotionally in the struggle for understanding.

A special subtitled performance will also be available free of charge for those presenting a ticket from a previous show.

According to its creators, The Island is not about taking sides but about coexistence — “two bodies in one prison learning to respect each other’s silence.” It is a bold and deeply human theatrical work that faces violence, memory, and identity head-on, offering a visceral and political stage experience that challenges and moves its audience.

Performance Information

Limassol – ETHAL Theatre