South Africa

The nation of South Africa is the play's broad-strokes setting. Its history of racial tension is, in a similar way, the broad-strokes moral setting for the play's thematic arguments and narrative action.

Robben Island

Robben Island is a real-world island off the coast of South Africa. It was used as a prison for several decades, most notably for Nelson Mandela and other anti-apartheid activists. It is the primary setting for the development of the play's story and themes.

The Jail Cell

The action of the play's first three scenes takes place in the jail cell in which John and Winston are imprisoned. Stage directions suggest that the cell is less of a physical reality to the audience, being bounded and defined by the use of light. Its physical reality is, on the other hand, very real to John and Winston.

The Performance Space

The final scene of...