We are starting a new season!

A season launch is always a premiere in its own right. On Friday, September 18 2026,we opened the new season with „Shear Madness. Murder At The Hairdresser’s”. In 2026/2027 season, while the modernization of our building at Legionów Street continues, we invite you to visit our two temporary stages!   

After the Friday spectacle, we hosted a discussion on the phenomenon of the show, which had premiered in Poland in 1999 in our Theatre. Director Ewa Pilawska, who brought the play to Polish stages, during the meeting moderated by Jacek Wakar told about the first Łódź production pointing out that before this title became a nationwide hit, nobody thought it would make it. From today’s perspective it seems natural that it was worth taking a risk – back then, it was not so obvious.    

Marcin Sławiński directed the first version of our spectacle; during the Friday meeting he spoke about beginnings and his doubts. The creators of the „new” version (directed by Marcin Sławiński and Arkadiusz Wójcik) also told about the difficulties and challenges they faced in confronting a legend – a cult production that some audience members had seen dozens of times...  

Ewa Pilawska mentioned the important role of Elżbieta Woźniak, the play’s translator, with whom she searched for a new comedy play for the Polish stage. Together with Marcin Sławiński she emphasized the creative and vital role the original cast played in shaping the Polish production of „Shear Madness”, noting that all subsequent stagings have drawn, and continue to draw, upon their ideas and direction (this is why she asked stage designer Wojtek Stefaniak to permanently incorporate photos of all actresses and actors of the first cast into the stage design).    

 There were many questions asked during the meeting. What did the Łódź production of „Shear Madness”give to Polish theatre and Polish stages? What is the phenomenon of this spectacle? Is it always „destined” for success? How much depends on the actors, and how much on the audience’s engagement?

 Thank you for the Friday meeting! We invite you to see the Sunday performance with Małgorzata Goździk as Barbara Markowska (she shares the role with Paulina Nadel).    

 We highly recommend the show programme, where you will find interview excerpts, trivia, and more about the history of the production of „Shear Madness”.

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Paul Pörtner
„Shear Madness. Murder At The Hairdresser’s”
Translated by Elżbieta Woźniak
Directed by Marcin Sławiński and Arkadiusz Wójcik
Stage design: Wojciech Stefaniak
Cast: Małgorzata Goździk/ Paulina Nadel, Marta Jarczewska, Sebastian Jasnoch, Jakub Kryształ, Michał Lacheta, Kamil Suszczyk

 

Photo coverage by Joanna Głodek
Photo of Małgorzata Goździk from the spectacle by Maciej Zakrzewski