Further than the Furthest Thing is a play in two acts by the Scottish playwright Zinnie Harris, set in 1961 on a remote island based loosely on Tristan da Cunha, and in the English city of Southampton.
After an awkward conversation, during which they are joined by Bill, who is deeply disturbed by the tremors and believes himself to have witnessed supernatural activity, Francis reveals that he has invited Mr Hansen, a factory-owner who he introduces as his friend, to the island.
It becomes apparent that Mr Hansen wishes to build a factory on the island, the economy of which had, up to that point, been based entirely on subsistence farming and fishing.
The second act takes place eleven months later in Southampton, where the island's residents have been rehoused by the British government and given jobs in Mr Hansen's factory.
Mr Hansen visits Bill in the boiler room, and confesses that he has lied to the community about the island, which was not in fact rendered uninhabitable.
Mill visits Mr Hansen, and tells him that the Second World War had prevented the usual supply ships coming to the island, causing the residents to starve.
It was directed by Irina Brown, and featured Paola Dionisotti as Mill, Gary McInnes as Francis, Kevin McMonagle as Bill, Darrell D'Silva as Mr Hansen, and Arlene Cockburn as Rebecca.
[7] The play had a revival at the Dundee Repertory Theatre in 2012; artistic director James Brining created an ambitious stage design using 29,000 litres of water.
The revival was critically acclaimed, with both Brining's design and Harris' plot receiving praise, although the dialogue was criticised as over-long in places.
[8][9] Further than the Furthest Thing was revived at London's Young Vic in 2023, starring Jenna Russell and Cyril Nri as Mill and Bill respectively.