Darkling is a poetic and deeply affecting piece of theatre that tells the story of growing up in the village of Bhopal, India, in 1984, where hopes for a better future are being built close by. Yet that promise of opportunity gradually reveals a much darker reality. The very structure that initially represented hope would ultimately become the cause of devastation, loss and the destruction of countless lives.
Rather than approaching catastrophe through spectacle, the production filters it through the intimate lens of memory. Through ‘She’ (Linnea Bertheisen), we experience childhood games, family relationships, friendships and the experience of growing up while watching a new structure take shape nearby. What initially appears to promise employment, prosperity and a better future gradually reveals a far darker legacy: lives lost, a community shattered, and ecological damage whose consequences continue to resonate even today.
The staging is beautifully restrained. A simple yet poignant set, designed by Simon Kenny, allows the storytelling to remain at the centre, while Matthew Xia’s sensitive direction and Rajiv Pattani’s clever lighting create atmosphere without overwhelming the intimacy of the piece. This simplicity works particularly well against the complexity and enormity of the events at the heart of the story.
At the centre of it all is Bertheisen’s compelling performance. With remarkable transparency and truth, she brings Titas Hadler’s script to life, carrying the audience through memories, dreams, innocence and loss. Her performance gives the story an intensely personal quality, reminding us that behind every historical catastrophe are individual lives, families and communities forever changed.
Perhaps most powerfully, Darkling does not allow its story to simply remain in the past. It leaves us considering difficult questions of responsibility. Who is ultimately accountable when economic ambition results in ecological disaster and devastating consequences for ordinary people?
Darkling takes us through dreams, memories and the haunting desire to return to the ashes of what once was. It is a poignant exploration of hope, loss, responsibility and remembrance. A story that lingers long after the performance has ended.
Darkling written by Titas Hadler and Directed by Matthew Xia is currently playing at The Bush Theatre, London until 24th October 2026,Birmingham Rep 30th and 31st October, The North Wall Arts Centre 3rd and 4th November and HOME Manchester 11th to 14th November.
Reviewed by Solange Urdang OBE.
