If San Francisco Collapses is a project that emerged from my love affair with this city. No place has ever felt more like home. 

I’m not alone in my affinity for San Francisco. For decades, artists, creatives, and revolutionaries have found solace for their creative practice and livelihoods here. With this piece of documentary theatre, I set out to examine how these dreamers see their city in 2023, their home being seemingly overrun with tech-bros and self-driving cars, the international capital of technological dominance. 

Every character you see in this play is a real San Franciscan. Each individual was asked a series of questions related to their experience moving here and their thoughts on how technology impacts the city today. The script consists of their exact words recorded during an interview in fall 2023. Only minimal edits were made for clarity. 

If San Francisco Collapses follows in the verbatim documentary theatre tradition of Moisés Kaufman, Anna Deavere Smith, and the Tectonic Theater Project. It was stylistically inspired by Frantic Assembly’s model of physical theatre. 

I’d like to offer my immense gratitude to the interviewees (Darlene Roberts, Paul S. Flores, Mary Curry, Aggie Schuman, and Sophie Engle) and to the community members who connected us. You make this city the beautiful place that it is. To the brilliant actors who have taken on this project so wholeheartedly, thank you. I could not ask for a better team. Thanks also to Stephanie Hunt, Eli Nelson, Beth Hersh, and Giacomo Fiore for their guidance throughout this process. 

The title for this piece comes from Maxime Le Forestier’s 1972 track “San Francisco.” 

Accrochée à ma mémoire (Clinging to my memory)

Peuplée de lumière (Peopled with light)

Et peuplée de fous (And populated by madmen)

Elle sera dernière (She will be last)

À rester debout (To stay standing)

Si San Francisco s'effondre (If San Francisco collapses)

If San Francisco collapses, the madmen will be left clinging to our collective memory. In an age of information overload and technological madness, the unique individuals and communities who make up the threads of this place are what matter most. 

A full length version of If San Francisco Collapses — Where are you? will be produced in the coming months. Follow @megrrobertson on Instagram for ticket information once available.