These dystopian dramas envision and interrogate scenes of extremity on the planet and within the social order.

They depict a world that is inundated; a world deprived of water; a world that feeds on scraps, that runs on vestiges; a world that is devoid of any natural habitat; and foresee the furthermost assault of authoritarianism.

Scattered among the scenarios are acts of radical selfishness. One text invents a stratagem that depends on radical love. 

Shells with Surprises by Ebru Nihan Celkan

Translated by Özlem Karadağ

Türkiye

Drought, reduced rainfall, global warming — issues which currently occupy us — mark the beginning of the timeline. Penia is recounting to her son the story of a happy people who are able to drink at will from the cool waters of a free flowing river or pour themselves a glass from a pitcher nearby. The old world, in which frozen clusters of ice fall from the sky, is now the realm of fairytales. —Ayris Alptekin, On the Obligations of Staying Alive, 19. İstanbul Tiyatro Festivali’nin

Housing Plan: 2015–2045 by Bosco Cayo Álvarez

Translated by William Gregory

Chile

After being devastated by a mudslide and toxic waste in March 2015, a group of residents in Chañaral decides to create a community work plan to rebuild their houses. The plan is suppressed by the government. —Constanza Pastor, “Three Decades of Neglect,” Arte al Límite

The play is a metaphor in which the very earth cannot hold out and all that remains is the sinking of a piece of land that cannot survive on lies. El mostrador

Department of Dreams by Jeton Neziraj

Translated by Alexandra Channer

Kosovo

A play which is about as anti-government and anti-authoritarian as can be. —Willard Manus, Total Theater

It’s about the rise of autocracies and the literal invasion of our imagination. —Frédérique Michel, Artistic Director of City Garage Theatre, interviewed by Jackie Sedley, The Corsair online 

An Orwellian portrait of a mad world in which all individuality is suppressed. —F. Kathleen Foley, Los Angeles Times

Other Than We by Karen Malpede

United States

A post-apocalyptic scenario in which survivors have a chance to remake the world . . . a grand vision, born of catastrophe, but with the possibility of triumph. —Eleanor Bader, The Indypendent

A utopian vision for a reconfigured race that will be “Other Than We.” Malpede uses image-rich language to transmit an urgent call for global unity. —Cindy Rosenthal, The Theatre Times

We want to believe that mending our species is indeed possible . Can the quartet of fugitives accomplish their outlandish goal? —Lena Zeldovitch, “Other Than We: The Making of Post Homo Sapiens,” Woman Around Town

A Fable for Now by Wei Yu-Chia

Translated by Jeremy Tiang

Taiwan

Wei’s work includes tales of war, the environment, and personal regret colliding as mankind hurtles towards a surreal apocalypse. —Jasmine Yu-Hsing Chen, Performing International Plays  

When all of contemporary culture and civilization is just another face on the sand that will be wiped away, what moral can there be? —Li Shi-Yong, Pareviews

Portraits by Biba Kayewich