Programs & projects

SHOWS, RECORDINGS, WORKSHOPS, COMPETITIONS, EXHIBITIONS

  Wise Fairy Tales Program

THE FIRST PREMIERE FROM THE SERIES OF WISE FAIRY TALES

The book “The Adventures of Peddy Bottom” was written by Stefan Themerson in Polish (1950), and also published by author in English and French. So there is probably no book better suited for adaptation to the stage for the Polish theatre in Canada than a fairy tale by Stefan Themerson! The title character, like an emigrant, experiences adventures with his own identity during his journey, asking who he is. Peddy Bottom feels as himself, that is, Peddy Bottom, but he does not know who Peddy Bottom actually is.

Stefan Themerson’s book is little known outside of Europe. Although more than 70 years have passed since its first edition, the main message of the text is still legible and can boldly be read as a current commentary on the absurdities of “new normality”. Peddy – like a little knight of common sense – tries to find his own identity. While others think he is part dog, part fish and part nightingale, he discovers that he is first and foremost himself, that is, the Runner Outcast. The author of the stage adaptation and the director: Krzysztof Woloczko

CANADIAN PREMIERE OF “THE ADVENTURES OF PEDDY BOTTOM” IN ENGLISH

The staging of the Polish version of Stefan Themerson’s “The Adventures of Peddy Bottom” (“Przygody Pedrka Wyrzutka”) will be presented on stage in English. In unchanged scenery and in the same costumes, but necessarily in a different, slightly strengthened cast. Playing in English will be a challenge for Polish actors, but also an opportunity to enrich the workshop and a chance to reach new audiences. The message of the text in Themerson’s own translation will be as legible as in Polish. Krzysztof Woloczko will be the author of the stage adaptation and the director of the performance.

    Radio Recordings 

RADIO DRAMA

For a year now, the members and supporters of the Adam Tarn Theatre have been recording the radio version of Stefan Themerson’s “The Adventures of Peddy Bottom”. The technique of recording with one microphone is similar to that in the movie shooting with one camera. However, these are limitations that help prevent the spread of all kinds of viruses … Referring to the artistic traditions of “Polish radio theatre” is one of the values of our team.

Henryka Nusser reading role of Mrs. Metapherein.

2022 BRUNO SCHULZ YEAR

The year 2022, pursuant to a special resolution of the Senate of the Republic of Poland, will be the Year of Bruno Schulz. The text of the resolution describes this artist with Jewish roots as a man of extraordinary imagination, intelligence and creativity. Schulz’s works – both artistic and literary – are a story about his own weaknesses, complexities of the psyche, obsessions, passions and complexes. Schulz’s portraits and self-portraits, cover designs for his own books, and illustrations for his own stories have survived. Actors and actresses of the Adam Tarn Theater take part in the recording of excerpts from Schulz’s stories.

PROJECT BOBKOWSKI

Bobkowski Project is the Polish Theatre Intytute’s newest platform promoting Polish literature. We would like especially to highlight the works by Polish writers outside Poland.The series starts with audio recordings of Andrzej Bobkowski’s Wartime Notebooks (“Szkice piórkiem”). This is our multi-voice experiment to bring the book to life, with each installment read by another person. The original Polish text of Bobkowski connects the people of diverse life expierience and from different parts of the world. The book is also available in English, translated by Grażyna Drabik and Laura Engelstein as Wartime Notebooks: 1940-1944.

    Workshops

INTRODUCTION TO IMPRO

Przemysław Buksinski is an actor, academic teacher, reciter and trainer of stage improvisation techniques with over 10 years of experience. He runs the Epicenter of Theater Techniques at the UMCS Academic Cultural Center “Chatka Żaka” in Lublin as its artistic director. He was the originator and co-creator of many theater projects. Workshops with Przemek Buksinski will allow participants to master the basic styles and techniques of improvisation theater. They will help to develop the skills of cooperation and dialogue on stage. Enrollment after the announcement of the confirmed date of classes.

   Competitions

RECITATION COMPETITION

The main program idea of this year’s National Recitation Competition is derived from the resolution of the Polish Parliament R.P. establishing 2022 THE YEAR OF POLISH ROMANTICISM. The organizers believe that this “appeal (not a warrant) to the participants will encourage them to reach for works that are invariably one of the greatest achievements of Polish literature” and that is why the introduction to the competition rules is a sketch by Prof. Krzysztof Mrowcewicz, which has the title: Let’s give Romanticism a chance. Actors and actresses of the Adam Tarn Theatre will take part in the qualifying rounds for the competition organized for the 67th time by the Society for Theater Culture.

   Seminars

“COMMON ROOM”

The Common Room at the Gaberbocchus publishing house was a place similar to the editorial office of “Dialog” in the times of Adam Tarn. In the years 1957–1959 in the seat of the publishing house, it operated as an art salon, hosting artists, intellectuals and scientists. On Thursday evenings called Gaberbocchus at Homes, there were discussions about literature and art, lectures, film screenings, concerts, and theater plays. The salon, like the Themersons’ artistic activity, was an original phenomenon, “a place with an avant-garde profile, connecting people and problems commonly classified as belonging to different worlds.” Its regulars fondly recall the meetings at the Themersons and the croissants with which Franciszka treated her guests.

   Exhibition

POLISH THEATRICAL POSTERS

The Polish Poster School is a concept known around the world, because it was artists from Poland that raised the poster from the level of applied graphics to the level of works of art. The poster has become the most recognizable field of Polish art for many years. Designers best known to art historians are: Henryk Tomaszewski, Jan Młodożeniec, Jan Lenica, Roman Cieślewicz, Franciszek Starowieyski, Eryk Lipiński, Waldemar Świerzy. Among the younger generation of artists, Andrzej Pągowski has been surprising the audience for years. In his virtual gallery you can find a large number of original reprints of theater posters, which in life size can create a great exhibition.