Islander (musical)

Islander is a contemporary Scottish musical, written by Stewart Melton with music and lyrics by Finn Anderson. The piece is notable for its innovative use of live looping to create a rich soundscape performed by only two actors.

The musical tells the story of Eilidh, a young girl living on a remote Scottish island, who feels disconnected from her community. When a washed-up whale carcass appears on the beach, Eilidh discovers a mysterious connection to a girl from another island, leading to a journey of friendship, environmental awareness, and cultural understanding.

Islander premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2018, where it won a Fringe First Award and a Musical Theatre Review Best Musical Award. Since then, it has toured extensively both nationally and internationally, receiving critical acclaim for its inventive staging, poignant story, and captivating music. The unique performance style, relying on the actors' vocal layering and percussive elements created using their bodies and minimal props, contributes significantly to the musical's distinctive atmosphere.