The program “Invasion” had its premiere on Saturday (3.12). It is a company that has moved a large audience.
Photo: Bartek Warzecha
Acceptance of otherness
“Invasion” directed by Tamara Trunova of the Left Bank Theater in kyiv is a moving show.
Spectators came in large numbers to the University Cultural Center to see the first international co-production of Aleksandra Wegirki’s Drama Theater in Bialystok. The show is a joint venture of Teatr Dramatyczny im. Aleksandra Węgierki in Białystok, the Kyiv Academic Theater of Drama and Comedy on the left bank of the Dnieper – Left Bank Theater in Kyiv and the Alytus Municipal Theater in Lithuania.
The show was based on a text by Malina Prześluga, which the playwright wrote especially for this project. The Gdynia Drama Award winner has written a very good screenplay that could become a war drama classic. It is a story of women from Ukraine and Poland, of what connects them, but also of what divides them, and of the magnitude of the challenge and the suffering that war represents for everyone.
This is Teatr Dramatyczny’s first international co-production, which has undoubtedly been a challenge for the whole team.
– We learn to accept and accept the differences, because apart from the language barrier, it turns out that each country has a different system. Theaters work differently, there is a different approach to certain subjects, we learn from each other. These are interesting exchanges and experiences – said Beata Chyczewska, playing the role of Zuza.
Absolutely stunning
Saturday’s performance greatly moved the public in Bialystok, who did not hide their emotion.
– What can we expect from the play “about two refugees finding temporary accommodation in Poland”? Exactly this: I have heard many such stories for several months, most of them are similar, although human destinies follow their own paths, but these stories are roughly similar to each other. So when I was sitting in the audience, I didn’t expect to ride in a theatrical Ferrari sitting on a not very comfortable plastic armchair – says Marcin Kwiatkowski from Tykociński Amateur Theater about the performance. – The idea of the complete dissimilarity of newcomers from a foreign country is central to the performance. The highlight of the program. Trunova presented it in an absolutely stunning way. Resplendent. I wonder about the sensitivity of the director and about a completely different way of creating a scenic expression compared to what I see every day. Two different worlds not only interpenetrate here on stage, but also determine themselves on the spectator-theater axis.
The actress of the role of Nina, Monika Zaborska, actress of the drama theater, emphasized:
– The most difficult thing was to face the fact that there are living people in front of me who are in direct contact with what is happening in Ukraine.
-While working on the show, we were overwhelmed by emotions that were absolutely impossible to escape and it was the most difficult work I have faced so far – said actress Beata Chyczewska, who played the role of Zuza, after the premiere.
The show was performed in Polish and Ukrainian. It was accompanied by subtitles with translation, but their presence was not a prerequisite for understanding the eloquent message of the scene.
The scenography and costumes for the show were created by Lithuanian artist Arturas Simonis. The music was composed by Marek Kubik and Krzysztof Kiziewicz is responsible for the visuals. The sets and costumes were designed by a Lithuanian artist – Artūras Šimonis. Krzysztof Kiziewicz is responsible for the multimedia of the show and the music for the show was composed by Marek Kubik.
The effect of cooperation with partners across the eastern border is the departure of the team from Teatr Dramatyczny im. Aleksander Wegierki in Białystok, Lithuania, where on December 12 he will play “Invasion” twice at the Municipal Theater of Alytus.
The performance was performed by: Beata Chyczewska, Monika Zaborska and guest stars: Anastasia Ievtushenko, Kristina Liuba and Oleśia Zhurakivska.
– Going to the show, I got much more than I expected the story of two families. Thus “Invasion” can be interpreted on completely different, perhaps surprising planes. The fantastic staging solutions used here, the acting and the way of telling the story take the viewer into completely different areas of personal reception – adds Marcin Kwiatkowski.
The implementation of the project “Direction Ukraine” within the framework of the program “Promotion of Polish culture abroad” was possible thanks to funding from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and the budget of the Podlaskie Voivodeship.
Project partners are: Kyiv Academic Theater of Drama and Comedy on the left bank of the Dnieper – Kyiv Left Bank Theater and Alytus City Theater. The event is also supported by the Polish Institute in kyiv and the Polish Institute in Vilnius.
