DUMMY is a haunting non-verbal solo performance that delves into the fragile boundaries between reality and illusion, loneliness and obsession. Set in the strange liminality of a textile shop—where time seems suspended—the play follows the psychological unraveling of a prisoner of habit, whose only companion is a mannequin. This inanimate figure, clothed in fabric and fantasy, slowly becomes a vessel for the man’s projected emotions, his memories, desires, and unspoken fears. With no spoken word, the performance relies on highly nuanced physical theatre, object manipulation, and rhythmic silence to tell its story. Actor Samitha Sudeeshwara breathes life into both the human and the plastic, blurring the distinction between animate and inanimate, love and illusion. The mannequin—both symbol and character—becomes a mirror to the protagonist’s inner world, offering comfort, conflict, and ultimately, a confrontation with selfhood. Directed with poetic precision by Sarathchandra Walpola, DUMMY offers a powerful critique of consumerism, emotional deprivation, and the search for connection in an increasingly synthetic world. Its silence speaks volumes, drawing the audience into an eerie, meditative space where gestures narrate what words cannot. A compelling piece of contemporary physical theatre, DUMMY leaves viewers reflecting on the question: What happens when the only one who listens to us—isn’t alive?