“2050 – 25 Years of the Lisbon Earthquake“: A New Take on Radio Drama
Comercial radio has launched its first audio fiction series, “2050 – 25 Years of the Lisbon Earthquake,” a dystopian narrative created by author Patrícia reis. The series, produced in partnership with quake – Museu do Terramoto, features a prominent cast including Júlio Isidro, Afonso Pimentel, Gabriela Barros, and Pedro Teixeira.
The story centers around a reporter interviewing witnesses to a fictional earthquake that strikes Lisbon in 2025, drawing inspiration from the historical 1755 Lisbon earthquake. Reis accepted the challenge from Comercial radio to develop a fictional series that would raise awareness about earthquakes.
“I love challenges, I couldn’t resist,” Reis stated. Her research included a visit to Quake and reading Rui Tavares’ “The Little Book of the Great Earthquake,” prompting her to imagine a contemporary earthquake scenario.
Reis aimed to blend entertainment with reflection on disaster preparedness and resilience, incorporating humor and awareness. A key element in achieving this balance is a “minute of prevention” segment at the end of each episode,offering concrete safety tips.”The fictional stories allowed us to address themes that are equally important in times of crisis: solidarity, calm, humor and the importance of prevention,” she explained.
The project prompted Reis to consider her own preparedness. ”I’ve thought about it several times and I know I live in an area that will be affected,” she admitted, noting she maintains an emergency kit with food, medicine, and a battery-powered radio. She highlighted recent power outages as evidence of existing vulnerabilities, suggesting an earthquake would be significantly more challenging.
Reis also sees a resurgence in interest in audio drama, pointing to the success of current audio fiction series in the podcast format. She recommends “Case 63” as an example of a well-produced series with strong sound design and a thought-provoking dystopian premise.
The series’ extraordinary cast was assembled by producer Margarida Gonçalves,whom Reis credits with making the project possible,alongside sound designer Paulo Castanheiro.
While it remains to be seen if “2050 – 25 Years of the Lisbon Earthquake” will become a landmark production for Comercial, Reis hopes it will be an enjoyable experience for listeners and open the door for future storytelling opportunities with talented actors.
