We will remember them
During last months we said „Farewell” to three people that had been closely connected with Powszechny Theatre for many years: actors Alicja Knast and Janusz Kubicki and Marian Kowalski, member of our technical team. We will never forget them.
Janusz Kubicki made his stage debut in „The Inquisitors” directed by Kazimierz Dejmek. He created many remarkable characters in plays directed by Dejmek, Janusz Kłosiński, Jerzy Antczak, Roman Sykała, Edward Dziewoński, Agnieszka Glińska and Waldemar Śmigasiewicz.
„We studied together and it was only then that I realized he would create many good characters. I was not wrong. Today I can truly say he was a very good theatre, film and dubbing actor. A magnificent actor and man – that is how we would remember him”, says Powszechny Theatre actor Michał Szewczyk. The audience loved him for his role as Professor Henry Higgins in „My Fair Lady”. – I played the role of Eliza Doolittle and together with Janusz we created really fantastic characters – says Barbara Połomska, Powszechny Theatre actress.
Janusz Kubicki was a true theatre man. He knew and told many anecdotes about theatre, not only Powszechny Theatre. For his younger colleagues these were stories about theatre and people that they did not have the opportunity to meet. „Janusz was a gentleman and a very cultural man, with a respect for everybody. He was modest and did not like to talk about himself. He loved to talk about theatre, to share his theatrical experience with others – says Barbara Połomska.
Alicja Knast was a theatre and film actress. She was with us in Powszechny Theatre from 1959 till 1989. She played (among many others) in „Maidens’ Vows” directed by Eugeniusz Stawowski, „The Stall With Songs” directed by Mirosław Szonert and in „Three Sisters”, „The House of Bernarda Alba” and „Right You Are, If You Think You Are” – all directed by Adam Hanuszkiewicz. „We shared the dressing room with Ala. She was a remarkable actress though you might think that her looks (she was short and petite) were not her advantage. You could not be more wrong! In „L’alouette” directed by Roman Sykała she played the role of Joanna d’Arc with enormous strength and truth. The audience was delighted with it not only in Łódź but in Hungary too – she was given an ovation there. Generally the truth was her stage strength. And privately she was a good and decent person. She did not say a wrong word of anybody, she tried to tone down conflicts and to cool down our hot heads”, recalls Barbara Połomska.
Marian Kowalski was closely connected with Powszechny Theatre in 1957 – 1989. His grandfather had also worked in the theatre and his son Andrzej – a decent man – is our colleague now. Many our employees still remember him. Those who knew him in person say that he was „friendly, kind and professional”. All his professional life was connected with the theatre – it was his heart and soul. He worked here as a craftsman, carpenter, assembly worker, stage technician. He was also a supernumerary – as a priest in „Balladyna”.
