Catch the smash-hit, award-winning one-woman show before it heads to the UK to Bitesize Fest in London and The Edinburgh Fringe Festival!
Winner of the Gold Standard Bank Ovation Award at the National Arts Festival ‘22, Île is back! This one-woman comedy play was nominated for Best Actress at Woordfees 2022 and a Fleur de Cap for Best Performance in a Revue, Cabaret or One-Person Show in 2023.
Written and performed by powerhouse Sophie Joans, and directed by comedy legend, Rob Van Vuuren, this coming-of-age story follows a young girl who visits her ancestral home: the Island of Mauritius. A hilarious and heart-warming journey ensues, of mother-daughter relationships, lava, dodos and uncovering the strange characters of one’s extended family. It’s a story about finding yourself in the present by excavating the past.
“It’s a hell of a play. The writing is superb. It’s fast, funny, and able to turn on a dime – from the outrageous and the absurd to moments of striking sincerity.”
– Dave Mann, The Critter
“Daar staan sy en lyk of botter nie in haar mond kan smelt nie. Dan maak sy haar mond oop en die spreekwoordelike vulkaan waarvan sy die gehoor ’n bietjie later gaan vertel, begin borrel en lawa van genot uitspoeg.”
– Jo-Ann Floris, INK!
“Sophie Joans’ Île is a deliciously captivating piece of theatre. It is uplifting, funny and inspiring. The show reverberates in terms of our families (especially our mothers), our relationships, the stories we cherish, tell and embrace.”
– Robyn Cohen, The Cape Robyn
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Written and performed by Sophie Joans
Directed by Rob Van Vuuren
Dramaturgy by Richard White
Composition by Ryan Stopforth
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Writer & Performer – Sophie Joans
Sophie Joans is an award-winning theatre-maker and comedian. She studied theatre at UCT and Wits, and completed courses in Clowning at RADA, Stand-Up Comedy at The Comedy Cellar and Storytelling at Second City. She co-wrote and co-starred in two-hander The Flower Hunters, which won a Standard Bank Ovation Award in 2021; and puppet show Do You Dream In Colour, which won a Zabalaza Festival’s Most Innovative Play in 2018. She played Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Maynardville Open Air Theatre. Her new play, Dog Rose, was selected to be part of the Arena Programme. Her debut solo show Île won a Gold Standard Bank Ovation at the National Arts Festival 2022 and was nominated for Best Actress at Woordfees, and Best Performance in a Solo Show at the Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards. Île went on to tour at The Durban Point Festival and Hilton Arts Festival, and will be heading to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival later this year.
Director – Rob van Vuuren
Rob van Vuuren is a multi-award comedian, actor, director and writer. He has been bringing new work to the National Arts Festival for nearly 30 years. His previous directing work includes: KG Mokgadi’s ‘Heavy’, Stuart Taylor’s ‘Funny You Should Say That’, Bevan Cullinan’s ‘Gary the Tooth Fairy’, Louw Venter’s ‘Best Man’s Speech’, Gaëtan Schmidt’s ‘Rumpsteak’, Scott Sparrow’s ‘Isabella’, and more.
