„A Madman's Diary” at the 28th Festival

On 27 April, at the 28th International Festival of Plays Pleasant and Unpleasant, on our Small Stage we presented video projection of „A Madman's Diary” directed by Lrystian Lupa. It was the first Polish presentation of the spectacle that had been produced in China by Propel Performing Arts & Media – partner of this year’s edition of the Festival. Thank you for being with us that night.

Krystian Lupa interpreted Lu Xun’s classic work to commemorate the writer’s 140th anniversary. The spectacle bridges the gap between Western and Eastern culture, interpreting the work from the universal perspective. Cannibalism Lu Xun writes about becomes a wide metaphor.

Written in 1918, Lu Xun’ s „A Madman Diary” marked the advent of modern Chinese literature.  Although it is one of the most important works of the 20th century literature, it does not easily lend itself to adaptation. It is much more ambiguous than later Lu Xun’s works. Generally understood as an attack on the „cannibalistic” nature of traditional Chinese society and culture, the short story depicts the spiritual awakening of a scholar, dismissed by everyone around him as a bout of madness. The story is full of narrative gaps and the way Krystian Lupa fills them sets his recent adaptation apart from earlier efforts. In his script Lupa draws on Lu Xun’s other tales, producing the story which take audience on a journey deep into the minds — or mind — of madman and author alike.

 

„A Madman's Diary”
based on a story „A Madman Diary” by Lu Xun
Direction, script and stage design: Krystian Lupa
Consultations: Zhou Lingfei Renxia
Costumes: Piotr Skiba
Video: Łukasz Twarkowski, Jakub Lech
Light: Tadeusz Perkowski
Music: Bogumił Misala
Assistants to the director: Maxim Tetruk, Yevgeny Juravili
Cast (in order of appearance): Tao Hai, Wang Xuebing, Mei Ting, Yan Nan, Zhao Qi, Li Longyin, Cao Yifei, Liu Mumei, Li Kui, Wenna Li Qiuchen
Producers: Christine Zhang, Qian Cheng

Photographs: Maciej Zakrzewski