VHS

„VHS”  is a story of a man whose trials and tribulations were entangled with social, structural and economic changes which took place in Poland in the 80-ties and the 90-ties of the last century. He decides to take the bit in his hands and comes up with the idea of his own private business. For this he intends to use a video recorder that was stolen from the transport of articles sent to the West as well as pirated VHS cassettes…

- I am interested in literature „close to the man” – plays which try to present every day life of ordinary people. „VHS” is a moving story about a man who believes his time has just come. And VHS cassettes are to become his way to happiness, wealth and freedom… He travels all over the country and organizes shows of foreign films in depots and village community centers. And then he makes a great man – director Sławomir Narloch says.  

For villagers, amateur film shows are a Western wind, an ersatz for luxury like a first sip of Coke. For the protagonist it is an „American Dream” in its Polish version. – Though from our perspective the 90-ties are a distant, mythical time where the world opened up and everything seemed possible, I still have an irresistible impression that the drive for success, for making a great man, has been telling our everyday life on and on. We have been living in the reprise of the 90-ties. In Powszechny Theatre we are producing a comedy which will take us into the world of deserted gas stations, the Rambo-style movies and a Polonez car with a Christmas tree air refreshener. You feel the smell, don’t you? – the director adds.               

Cigarette smoke as well as offensive words are used in the spectacle.

Licence for the songs used in the spectale was granted by Stowarzyszenie Autorów ZAiKS. Five-seconds’ fragment of „Lilo…jetzt treibt sie es noch toller” directed by Franz Antel (produced by UFA-VIDEO, 1984) is also used as a quotation.

 The spectacle takes part in the 31st edition of the National Competition for the Production of Polish Contemporary Drama Play

• The National Competition for the Production of Polish Contemporary Drama Play aims to reward the most interesting repertoire searches in Polish theatre, to support Polish dramaturgy in its stage productions and to popularize Polish contemporary drama. The competition is organized by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and the Zbigniew Raszewski Theatre Institute in Warsaw.
• At he first stage of the competition the spectacles are appraised by the Artistic Board: Jacek Sieradzki (chairman), Adam Karol Drozdowski, Dominik Gac, Anna Pajęcka, Kamila Łapicka, Eryk Maciejowski, Wiktoria Wojas.