70th anniversary of Powszechny Theatre – preview of „Song Factory”

What an exceptional weekend! It was a climax of the jubilee events of Powszechny Theatre’s 70th anniversary. We started on Saturday 11 April when Allan Starski’s star was installed in the Walk of Fame in Łódź. After that we opened the exhibition „Where the film was born…” in the Opus Gallery and then a preview of „Song Factory” took place in Powszechny Theatre. There were politicians, journalists, actors, film and theatre creators and families of people who made „Forbidden Songs” in the audience that evening. A very warm „thank you” to all of you present that evening in our Theatre!

„Song Factory” by Maciej Karpiński and Maciej Wojtyszko tells a story of people who met in film studio in Łąkowa Street – director Leonard Buczkowski, screenwriter Ludwik Starski, Henio – the handyman, pre-war stars and young enthusiasts. Those who lived through Nazi occupation and now, full of enthusiasm, start to rebuild our culture. „Generally it was film that drew from the theatre, got inspired by it and even absorbed plays and people – actors, set designers, technicians, even directors. Now it’s time older Muse repayed the younger one” – noticed director Ewa Pilawska. „Song Factory” was coproduced by Opus Film.

On Saturday night after the spectacle director Ewa Pilawska thanked the whole team of „Song Factory” – it was a symbolic „thank you” to all actors and spectators who had been co-creating Powszechny Theatre for 70 years. There would be no sense in any spectacle if not for a magic meeting of actors and the audience. „We thank our spectators very much for coming to our Theatre for those 70 years” – said Ewa Pilawska on behalf of the whole theatre team. There were flower basket and congratulations from Danuta Zdanowska, the Mayor of Łódź.

Mayor Danuta Zdanowska, director general of Provincial Office in Łódź Sławomir Wasilczyk and director Ewa Pilawska decorated actors with medals awarded by Małgorzata Omilanowska, Minister of Culture and National Heritage.

Silver Medals for Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis were given to:

- Ms Barbara Połomska, senior actress of Powszechny Theatre. She has been working in our Theatre since 1956. Barbara Połomska played in many Polish and foreign films and in many stage productions;

- Mr Michał Szewczyk, senior actor of Powszechny Theatre. He has been working in our Theatre since 1958. Michał Szewczyk played many roles in films and theatre productions.

Both actors had their special appearance in „Song Factory” – their roles were specially written at the request of director Ewa Pilawska.

Bronze Medal for Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis was given to:

- Mr Mirosław Henke – an actor of Powszechny Theatre (for 30 years) and a lecturer of Łódź Film School.

Honorary Badges for Distinguished Service to Culture were given to: Ms Barbara Lauks, Ms Ewa Sonnenburg, Ms Barbara Szcześniak, Mr Andrzej Jakubas, Mr Piotr Lauks and Mr Grzegorz Pawlak.

The jubilee awards of Powszechny Theatre director were given to:

- actors: Mr Artur Majewski, Ms Karolina Łukaszewicz, Ms Magdalena Zając-Zawadzka, Ms Barbara Ziejka and Mr Artur Zawadzki

- people who work in our Theatre but never appear on stage: Ms Małgorzata Urzędowska (she has been working in Powszechny Theatre for 19 years), Ms Anna Chojecka (30 years), Ms Maria Zamojska (11 years), Ms Małgorzata Myszkowska (21 years), Ms Ewa Feliga (10 years), Mr Andrzej Kowalski (22 years), Mr Marek Gibki (38 years) and Mr Mirosław Kluska (who has been working in our Theatre for 15 years).

This was an evening we will never forget. The meeting and conversations of actors, producers and spectators ended well after midnight. Thank you for a true family atmosphere of the whole weekend!

“Song Factory”

Directors: Maciej Wojtyszko, Adam Wojtyszko

Set design: Allan Starski

Costumes: Wiesława Starska

Music: Jerzy Satanowski

Stage movement: Jarosław Staniek

Music arrangement: Paweł Jabłoński

Vocal group manager: Marzena Lauks

cast: Marta Jarczewska, Aleksandra Listwan, Ewa Sonnenburg, Beata Ziejka, Mirosław Henke, Piotr Łukaszczyk, Artur Majewski, Maciej Makowski, Aleksander Trąbczyński, Arkadiusz Wójcik, Artur Zawadzki

with special appearance by Barbara Połomska and Michał Szewczyk