This Islands Mine, written by Toby Hulse and presented by Bristol-based theatre company Roustabout, will tour 25 primary and secondary schools this autumn. 

In early 2020, Roustabout visited primary and secondary schools and created conversation with 195 students in order to develop its new show This Islands Mine, which explores the themes of colonialism, identity and place and uses the students’ thoughts and opinions to shape the piece.

The play is set in the magical and comic world of Shakespeare’s The Tempest and blends Brechtian and Forum Theatre techniques to focus on the debate between the three inhabitants of an island – one of the first peoples (Ariel), a second-generation religious refugee (Caliban) and a Western coloniser (Stephano) – all who believe the island is theirs.

Following a tour of the primary and secondary schools, the play will then visit the following arts venues: Watermans, London on 19 September, The Poly in Falmouth on 25 September, Burton Taylor Studio, Oxford Playhouse on 2-3 October, The Egg in Bath on 9 October, Theatre Clwyd in Mold on 16 October, Bridport Arts Centre 23 October, Exeter Phoenix on 24 October, The Pound in Corsham on 27 October, Tobacco Factory Theatres, Bristol on 28-31 October and then the Blackwood Miners Institute and Valley Arts in Chew Valley on 6 and 7 November respectively. 

Forming the cast of This Island’s Mine are Robin Hemmings as Caliban, Kesty Morrison as Ariel and Eleanor Pead as Stephano. They will be directed by writer Toby Hulse and the project is supported by Arts Council of England and Tobacco Factory Theatres, in partnership with Cathedral Schools Trust and One Bristol Curriculum and University of Bristol. 

Tickets are available from individual theatre venues and more information is available here.