Darkling is a new theatrical production at London's Bush theatre featuring Stranger Things actress Linnea Berthelsen in her UK stage debut. The play is a dramatic monologue about a young girl's coming of age set against the backdrop of the 1984 Bhopal toxic gas disaster in India, one of history's worst industrial catastrophes that killed thousands. This production serves as a reminder of an often-overlooked tragedy.

However, the reviewer finds that the monologue format, whilst physically engaging and artfully staged with projections and a soil-filled set, ultimately fails to convey the full horror of the disaster. The script's poetic descriptions, uneven pacing that dwells too long on childhood before rushing through trauma, and problematic narrative choices—including equating female worth to motherhood—leave audiences with a sense that the tragedy has been told without the requisite emotional impact. The production runs until 24 October.