Bengaluru play ‘The Earthquake’ explores loneliness through unspoken words

Last Page Collective’s ‘The Earthquake,’ directed by Samragni Dasgupta, explores the impact of unspoken words in relationships with a minimalist set and multilingual dialogue

Last Page Collective’s upcoming production, The Earthquake, promises a poignant exploration of a universal theme: the weight of unspoken words in human relationships. Directed by Samragni Dasgupta, the play is an adaptation of Bhūmikampa – Das Erdbeben, originally written in a confluence of English, German, and Bengali. This multilingual origin story hints at the play’s ambition to transcend cultural barriers and resonate with a global audience.

Samragni, drawing on her background in both acting and directing, has reimagined the script for a local audience. She retains the core themes but infuses the dialogue with English, Malayalam, and Hindi, allowing the actors, Lesley Amol Simeon and Thamam Mubarish, to fully inhabit their characters through their mother tongues. This linguistic diversity reflects the multicultural experience of Bengaluru itself.

The minimalist set design, a single bench, puts the focus squarely on the actors and the unspoken emotions that dance between them. “The limitations of minimalism allow the audience to completely focus on the actors, and on the other hand, they challenge the actors to be completely vulnerable without being able to hide behind a set,” says Samragni.  

Shania Mathew, the assistant director, elaborates on the audience’s role in this intimate space: “We want the audience to feel the tension. We want them to hear every sigh, every hesitation, and also the silences.”

The Earthquake delves into the complexities of modern life, particularly the isolating nature of urban existence in a city like Bengaluru. The director explains, “The play explores themes of connection in a society that has begun to adopt a more individualistic nature. We hope that the urban, isolating lives many Bangaloreans experience are represented here.”

Beyond Bengaluru’s specificities, the play tackles a universal human condition — loneliness. “The idea for this collaboration started with a conversation about loneliness,” says Samragni.

Shania adds, “The play examines the factors that hold us back from being our most vulnerable selves. It asks the question: can we, or rather, is it even possible to shed all our layers in front of our companions?