XXIV International Festival of Plays Pleasant and Unpleasant (2018)
The theme of this year’s edition of the International Festival of Plays Pleasant and Unpleasant refers to the words of Professor Sławomir Świontek. He was an outstanding drama and theatre theorist, literary scholar and an expert on the poetry of Cyprian Kamil Norwid connected with the Łódź academic community. He cited a legend of Saint Genesius of Rome, a comedian and actor, who had once given up the rehearsed lines and sacrificed his life to deliver his own speech. „It is dangerous to quit the stage” is a universal and timeless theme. It refers to a broader context, too. What does the stage give to the actor? What does it take away from him? Is there a line between the artist on the stage and the artist off the stage? And if so, what is the line? Who is the artist on the stage? Is he there himself? Why is it dangerous to „quit the stage”? Can the artist afford to do it? And if so, when? What are the consequences of such decision? The theme will become the starting point for discussions on modern theatre transformations, the changes not only from formal and thematic angle but from the point of view of human experiences concerning the theatre artists’ condition, too…
I invite you to the Theatre
Ewa Pilawska
artistic director
Programme of the XXIV edition of the Festival - 2018
March 5, 6.30 p.m.
It Is Dangerous To Quit the Stage – vernissage
Where: Powszechny Theatre in Łódź
March 5, 7.00 p.m.
The Wedding, directed by Jan Klata (The Helena Modrzejewska National Stary Theatre in Cracow)
Where: Powszechny Theatre in Łódź, Big Stage
March 10 at 6.00 p.m.,
Heart of a Dog, directed by Maciej Englert (Współczesny Theatre in Warsaw)
The play will be presented at Współczesny Theatre in Warsaw (13 Mokotowska Street)
Ticket price includes bus transfer to and from Warsaw.
March 11, 7.00 p.m.
K., directed by Monika Strzępka (Polish Theatre in Poznań)
Where: Powszechny Theatre in Łódź, Big Stage
March 14, 6.00 p.m.
The Trial, directed by Krystian Lupa (main producer: New Theatre in Warsaw)
Where: Expo-Łódź Hall, 4 Politechniki Ave
March 15, 12.00 a.m.
The End of the World of Values – a meeting with Łukasz Maciejewski and Krystian Lupa
Where: Powszechny Theatre in Łódź, Small Stage
March 15, 6.00 p.m.
The Trial, directed by Krystian Lupa (main producer: New Theatre in Warsaw)
The place of presentation: Expo-Łódź Hall, 4 Politechniki Ave
March 16, 7.15 p.m.
Hannah Arendt: The escape, directed by Grzegorz Laszuk, First preview
(co-production of Powszechny Theatre in Łódź and Komuna Warszawa)
Where: Powszechny Theatre in Łódź, Small Stage
March 17, 7.15 p.m.
Hannah Arendt: The escape, directed by Grzegorz Laszuk, First preview
(Co-production of Powszechny Theatre in Łódź and Komuna Warszawa)
Where: Powszechny Theatre in Łódź, Small Stage
March 17, 7.00 p.m.
Mephisto, directed by Agnieszka Błońska (The Zygmunt Hubner Powszechny Theatre in Warsaw)
Where: Powszechny Theatre in Łódź, Big Stage
March 18, 2.00 p.m.
Censorship – panel discussion
Where: Powszechny Theatre in Łódź, Small Stage
March 18, 7.00 p.m.
Notes from Exile, directed by Magda Umer (Polonia Theatre in Warsaw)
Where: Powszechny Theatre in Łódź, Big Stage
March 23, 6.00 p.m.
The Friedmans’ Secret Life, directed by Marcin Wierzchowski (The Ludowy Theatre in Cracow)
Where: Powszechny Theatre in Łódź
March 24, 6.00 p.m.
The Friedmans’ Secret Life, directed by Marcin Wierzchowski (The Ludowy Theatre in Cracow)
Where: Powszechny Theatre in Łódź
March 25, 2.00 p.m.
It Is Dangerous To Quit the Stage – panel discussion
Where: Powszechny Theatre in Łódź, Small Stage
March 25, 7.15 p.m.
lovebook, directed by Michał Siegoczyński, first preview (Powszechny Theatre in Łódź)
Where: Powszechny Theatre in Łódź, Small Stage
March 26, 7.15 p.m.
lovebook, directed by Michał Siegoczyński, first preview (Powszechny Theatre in Łódź)
Where: Powszechny Theatre in Łódź, Small Stage
March 29, 7.00 p.m.
Uncle Vanya, directed by Iwan Wyrypajew (The Arnold Szyfman Polish Theatre in Warsaw)
Where: Powszechny Theatre in Łódź, Big Stage
After having seen eight spectacles (eleven shows) taking part in the Plebiscite, the viewers chose their favourites. Here are the results of the Audience Plebiscite (the spectators cast their votes both in a traditional way and by internet):
The Best Actress – Krystyna Janda for her role in „Notes from Exile”, based on a book by Sabina Baral, directed by Magda Umer (produced by Polonia Theatre in Warsaw)
The Best Actor – Borys Szyc for the role of Sharik/Sharikov in „Heart of a Dog” by Mikhail Bulgakov, directed by Maciej Englert (produced by Współczesny Theatre in Warsaw)
The Best Performance – „The Wedding” by Stanisław Wyspiański, directed by Jan Klata (produced by The Helena Modrzejewska National Stary Theatre in Cracow)
The following spectacles took part in the competition part of the Festival:
- „The Wedding” by Stanisław Wyspiański, directed by Jan Klata (produced by The Helena Modrzejewska National Stary Theatre in Cracow)
- „Heart of a Dog” by Mikhail Bulgakov, directed by Maciej Englert (produced by Współczesny Theatre in Warsaw)
- “K.” by Paweł Demirski, directed by Monika Strzępka (produced by Polski Theatre in Poznań)
- “Hannah Arendt: The Escape” by Paweł Mościcki, directed by Grzegorz Laszuk (produced by Powszechny Theatre in Łódź and Komuna Warszawa)
- “Mephisto” directed by Agnieszka Błońska (produced by The Zygmunt Hubner Powszechny Theatre in Warsaw)
- „Notes from Exile”, based on a book by Sabina Baral, directed by Magda Umer (produced by Polonia Theatre in Warsaw)
- “The Friedmans’ Secret Life” by Marcin Wierzchowski and Daniel Sołtysiński, directed by Marcin Wierzchowski (produced by Ludowy Theatre in Cracow)
- “lovebook” by Michał Siegoczyński, directed by Michał Siegoczyński (produced by Powszechny Theatre in Łódź).
„The Trial”, based on the novel by Franz Kafka, directed by Krystian Lupa (produced by Nowy Theatre in Warsaw) and „Uncle Vanya” by Anton Chekhov, directed by Ivan Vyrypaev (produced by The Arnold Szyfman Polski Theatre in Warsaw) did not take part in the Plebiscite.
Thank you for your votes. Our sincere congratulations to all winners!
