How to describe “On the Island”?

Surreal. Disturbing. Challenging. All at 15 feet in the air. S.T. Shimi's solo theatrical performance is about an artist who is imprisoned without a trial. It combines movement on the ground with movement performed on aerial fabric from 3 to 15 feet off the ground.

It's a sequel to her show “In the Garden,” which addressed political repression from the point of view of everyday man.

“This piece is from the point of view of someone directly affected by political repression,” she said. “It's universal because you can fit the story into any country's behavior, any country that has a history of repression.”

The show includes original ambient music by Paul Harford and lighting by Billy Muñoz.

“You'll hopefully get that feeling of paranoia and confusion prisoners get as they move from cell to cell,” Shimi said.

Shimi performed “On the Island” as a workshop piece in San Antonio last year and at the National Asian American Theater Festival in New York in June. She since has fleshed out the story and added new choreography.

“It remains very surreal in a Harold Pinter/Samuel Beckett sort of way,” she said.

Jessica Belasco | 210SA Contributor