Even at the Edinburgh fringe, its not often that you see a human turning itself into a volcano, but a visit to Sophie Joans’ one-woman show Île, opens with her physical dramatisation of the eruptive formation of Mauritius. This is immersive, expressive, in your face physical theatre and Joan’s energy is infectious as she makes full use of movement, language and sound to represent shifting tectonic plates, popping lava and the fecundity of this tropical paradise.
A distinct switch in genre and pace follows this dramatic introduction, as Joans embarks on her sweet, often funny, coming of age tale; cantering through the island’s history and her own familiar links. An often difficult relationship with her own mother inspires a visit to this exotic land. However, this isn’t just the Mauritius of glossy travel brochures, but an ex-French colony where everyone is inter-related and the close-knit community feels at times almost suffocating. Her evocative description of the island, from its red flame trees, and bioluminescent plankton, to its vast swathes of palm trees and expansive fields of sugar cane, transports the audience somewhere magical and certainly far away from a bunker at the Pleasance. The characters come alive in our imagination; from Stanley the long-suffering gardener, to the dreadlocked beach bum with the bad breath.
This is highly personal stuff and Joans’ storytelling and undoubted acting ability manages to hold the audience spellbound. Her facial expressions, tone, rhythm accents and sheer vitality draw us into the narrative. Part comedy, part storytelling and part physical theatre, Île defies easy categorization and at times feel a little disjointed. However raw talent shines through this unusual work and Sophie Joans gives a memorable performance. It’s no surprise to learn that in her native South Africa she is classified is an actor, writer, and comedian. Île allows her to showcase all of these prodigious talents.
Île runs until Mon 28 Aug 2023 at Pleasance Courtyard – Bunker Three at 11:35