"Nuestra isla" musical explores migration and belonging

The musical "Nuestra isla" (Our Island) delves into the profound themes of migration and belonging, resonating deeply with its lead actress, Gina Granados. Granados sees a personal connection to the play's narrative, noting that her recent roles have also touched upon the concept of belonging. "I feel I am going through that process personally, because when I arrived in Mexico City I started looking for that, my own artistic voice," she explained.

Granados discovered the original script for "Islander" by Stewart Melton in 2021. Initially planning to produce it herself, she learned that someone else had already secured the rights in Mexico. Fortuitously, her friend Iván Pasillas held those rights. After a six-month wait, Granados was invited to audition and secured a role.

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I feel I am going through that process personally, because when I arrived in Mexico City I started looking for that, my own artistic voice.

"Nuestra isla" is set on the Scottish island of Kinnen, which faces depopulation due to resource scarcity. The story centers on Eilidh, a young woman who decides to remain on the island. Her life takes a magical turn when she meets Arran on the beach, who claims to be a sea inhabitant. The musical also touches upon migration, as the island struggles to sustain its inhabitants. The play features quirky characters, including one searching for a gnome and another dedicated to saving whales, highlighting themes of female solidarity.

Adding to the production's unique challenges, only two actresses, Gina Granados and Alicia Candelas (alternating with Marián Guzmán and Gaby Castillejos), are on stage. They are tasked with embodying around 30 characters and performing live music. They utilize a device called a "lupera" to create rhythmic bases and layer vocal harmonies, sustaining the musicality throughout the performance.

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It speaks a lot about migration because it is the story of an island that can no longer supply its needs.