The People of Pompeii: A Playwright’s Reflection on LA Wildfires and Community

Playwright Bernardo Cubría is exploring themes of community and responsibility in his work The People of Pompeii, a project developed in the wake of the Los Angeles wildfires, according to American Theatre. The production serves as a reflection on collective duty and survival following the environmental disasters that impacted the region.

The Development of The People of Pompeii

American Theatre identified Cubría as a person to watch on July 28, 2026, highlighting his focus on the intersection of historical tragedy and contemporary crisis. The playwright used the anniversary of the Los Angeles wildfires as a catalyst for The People of Pompeii, drawing parallels between the ancient eruption of Mount Vesuvius and the modern experience of wildfire devastation.

The narrative focuses on the responsibilities individuals hold toward their neighbors during a catastrophe. By framing the story through the lens of Pompeii, Cubría examines how societies organize, fail, or persevere when faced with inevitable destruction.

Themes of Community and Responsibility

Central to the work is the concept of communal responsibility. According to American Theatre, Cubría uses the play to interrogate what is owed to others when a community is displaced or destroyed by natural forces.

The playwright connects the physical loss experienced during the Los Angeles wildfires to the historical erasure of Pompeii. This connection allows the production to address the psychological aftermath of disaster and the necessity of rebuilding social bonds after a traumatic event.

Bernardo Cubría’s Artistic Approach

Cubría’s approach integrates personal reflection with historical analysis. His work often seeks to find a universal language for grief and recovery, utilizing the stage to process real-world events through a dramatized, historical mirror.

By selecting the disaster of Pompeii, Cubría provides a distance that allows audiences to analyze the dynamics of responsibility without the immediate political friction often associated with modern climate disasters, while still grounding the emotional core in the lived experience of the California fires.