Freedom in theatre?

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

the 32nd edition of the Festival lies ahead of us – this year it is untypical because it takes place during the biggest modernization of our building at 21 Legionów Street in the Powszechny Theatre history. We are facing the prospect of a modern building which will serve next generations, but for the moment our two stages have been out of service for about two years. Our spectacles are presented on two temporary stages. We had to adapt ourselves to new conditions while preparing this year’s edition of International Festival of Plays Pleasant And Unpleasant. I have heard many questions and concerns whether – because of the modernization – we will have the Festival this year. Is it going to work? It is my great pleasure to confirm – it is. I am very glad that all my theatrical journeys and searches resulted in the programme of this year’s edition which we will start from 25 March.      

There have been many hours of talks, looking for solutions, site visits, negotiations, technical riders’ analyses, plans behind us… In all respects this year’s edition is an incomparably bigger challenge than usual, but at the same time a great satisfaction that we will meet for the 32 time. I want to thank all people and friends of our Theatre for the openness of their hearts and minds as well as for sensible compromises thanks to which we will meet at the 32 edition of the Festival. Once again it has shown how important the Festival is for all of us. Many thanks and best regards for all of you. 

Our Festival presentations and events will take place on our temporary stage in Pieter Smit and in EXPO-Łódź Hall which is the strategic partner of this year’s edition.   

Each Festival is accompanied by a main idea which becomes a pretext for discussion. This year it is „Freedom in theatre?” I hope this will encourage discussion on freedom in general. And that is the point – what does freedom mean in modern theatre? Is modern Polish theatre free and are we free in modern theatre? I make no secret of the fact that I have been also inspired by the situation in The Stefan Żeromski Theatre in Kielce and the deadlock it has stuck in for many months. The theatre has a director who won the competition for the position and at the same time it has no director because the Marshal’s Office has no intention of appointing him to the position. So it is free and independent but now helpless and dependent. 

We can devote hundreds of pages of deliberations on freedom in theatre and freedom in general and the topic will never be exhausted. I do not claim such ambitions, I would like only to raise a couple of questions concerning the sphere we face every day in the theatre.  

Freedom and politics?
Freedom and economic censorship?
Freedom and theatre criticism?
Freedom and ideology?
Freedom and the ethos of theatre people? 
Freedom and modern theatre’s model?
Freedom of creation and expectations?
I invite you to discussion. I invite you to the 32nd Festival – see you at the theatre! 

Ewa Pilawska
director of Powszechny Theatre in Łódź
artistic director of International Festival of Plays Pleasant And Unpleasant