A short play about connection and hope across borders
Official Languages is a student-led theatre piece performed at Central Saint Martins, London. Directed by Tong Gao, the play follows the survivors of a flood, all of whom come from different countries and are united by a broken understanding of English. Amidst the struggles to communicate is the budding connection between two young survivors, Jesse and Bagin, who, despite not speaking the same language, desperately root for each other’s safety.
The production design, done by West Mou, is very masterfully constructed, with the multiple shades of grey instantly immersing us in a world of gloom and loneliness. It is bleak and stripped back without ever being simplistic, like the mind of a person suffering from depression. This is also reflected in the costume design. There are three large inflatable devices: one black, one white, and one grey. Even with this possibility of survival and safety, Gao, the art director, highlights that it will not come without immense despair. Official Languages is a truly devastating play, with Gao and Mou infusing that sadness into every element of this play.
With only a forty-minute runtime, the cast and crew of Official Languages successfully convey a great many emotions – despair, fear, love, and even a much-needed sense of humour. All the actors bring real breadth and depth to their characters, allowing the audience to cheer them on even when we may not understand what they are saying. Perhaps this is what Gao has also set out to achieve – not just expressing a panic about being stranded with someone who speaks a different language, but the ability of people from all backgrounds to come together during times of hardship and search for truth and hope!
The love story between Jesse and Bagin is where the story’s beating heart lies. Both actors create a soulful dynamic, a flicker of light in Gao and Mou’s bleak world. Again, with such a short runtime, it is fascinating to see these two characters tug so firmly at our heartstrings. Every good survival story contains that beacon of hope, and the connection between these two characters is exactly that.
Official Languages is also a timely examination of the threats that some people can pose to others. Richard Dannenberg plays the only fluent English speaker, a singer-guitarist who bides his time performing his songs. These songs, while performed in a major key, eerily contradict the fracturedness of the relationships between the survivors. Gao clearly recognises that these moments are a metaphor for the language barriers and communication frustrations that plague this new society – the presence of Dannenberg’s character, as the only white person among the group of Chinese survivors, feels like an imposition. In fact, I found this scene to be quite reminiscent of Ryan Coogler’s hit film Sinners (2025), where the Irish characters, even with their traumatic past, still used their white privilege to infringe upon the safety and rights of the black community!
Official Languages, while confusing at times, is a very interesting experimental piece. It is short and poignant, and it is always worth supporting student creatives in their journeys of storytelling!
Official Languages was performed at Central Saint Martins on May 8, 2026.