Riot Island: Story, Cast and Series Facts

Story and premise

Could a prison without bars and armed guards really work? Facing a wave of organized crime in the 1950s, Singapore decided to find out. In a revolutionary new penal initiative, the country sent hardened gangsters to an open-air prison on the idyllic desert island of Pulau Senang. This series explores the pioneering experiment from its inception to its catastrophic end.

Initially lauded worldwide, within three years the prison was making headlines for all the wrong reasons. The whole complex was burned to ashes and the superintendent murdered in one of the worst prison riots in history. In Singapore's trial of the century, 59 men stood accused of rioting and murder. The death sentence hung over these men, but as the trial progressed questions arose about what really happened. Was this prison experiment really as progressive in practice as it was in theory? Was the murdered superintendent an idealistic martyr or a sadistic slave-driver?

Featuring gripping reconstructions, archive footage of the prison and exclusive interviews with former prisoners and the family of the slain superintendent, Riot Island takes the viewer on an immersive journey to discover the truth behind this bloody affair.

Series details

• Title: Riot Island
• Format: Documentary
• Language: English
• Genres: Crime
• Premiere date: 2022-11-29
• Final broadcast date listed: 2022-12-06
• Status in TVmaze: Ended
• Network listed by TVmaze: CNA
• Network country: Singapore
• TVMaze ID: 79311

Seasons in the TVmaze catalogue

• Season 1: premiered 2022-11-29; final listed air date 2022-12-06; episode order: 2.

Source and licence

Adapted from Riot Island on TVmaze. The synopsis is reproduced as plain text; catalogue facts, cast and season records are selected and reformatted. This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, following the TVmaze API licence. Network and web-channel credits identify the service listed in this source; they do not establish current streaming availability.