Synopsis

A small island in the North Atlantic in the summer months before the Second World War

John and Robert, two young naturalists from Cambridge, arrive on a desolate island to conduct a bird survey. Their orderly scientific plans are upended by the presence of Ellen, the niece of the island’s cantankerous caretaker, Kirk. As the group becomes increasingly isolated from the outside world, tensions rise and boundaries blur, leading to a complex web of desire, jealousy, and moral ambiguity.

Greig’s play is a haunting exploration of human nature set against the backdrop of an untamed wilderness. Through lyrical language and dreamlike sequences, he delves into themes of scientific objectivity versus primal instinct, the ethics of observation, and the transformative power of isolation. The island itself becomes a character, its harsh beauty and ancient pagan history exerting a powerful influence over the characters. As the lines between observer and observed, civilised and wild, begin to fade, the play raises profound questions about morality, desire, and what it means to be truly free.