"Madame" in Teatr na Woli Warszawa

Antoni Libera, one of Polish finest playwrights, essayists, translators, critics, writers and scholars, who knows a lot about Beckett, Sophocles and many others, wrote this brilliant play, "Madame" in 1998. It is, along with "Godot and his shadow" from 2009 among his most famous works.
"Madame" is a story of a teacher of French in one of the Polish high schools in the 1960s. Times are taugh in Poland then, in times of communism people cannot travel anywhere, their moves are restricted, so are the things they believe and feel. Gloomy times, hard ones too.

"Festen" by Thomas Vinterberg in TR Warszawa

The crew of TR Warszawa is getting its fame as they decide to perform most difficult and demanding, but also most popular contemporary plays. It is here one can see a 5-hour long version of  "Angels in America" by Tony Kushner (always sold out), "Faithless" by Ingmar Bergman or "T.E.O.R.E.M.A.T." based on Pier Paolo Pasolini.
This time I decided to follow the map (TR Warszawa seems not to have their fixed stage, they are moving, and currently perform in on of the most modern filming studios in Poland - ATM, in the outskirts of Warsaw) and take part in the stage version of a wonderful film directed by Thomas Vinterberg - "Festen".
The performance received raving reviews in the world, as it was shown before in many other places. This is quintessential TR Warszawa: they get even more famous abroad then in Poland. The New York Times and New York Post wrote about it, so did Suddeutsche Zeitung and Berliner Zeitung.
And "Festen" is absolutely worth all the praise it is getting.

James McAvoy is Macbeth

One of my personal favorites, the ultimate Scot James McAvoy takes a short break from filming to play a physically and psychically demanding role of King Macbeth in Shakespearean play in London's Trafalgar Studios. I might see the very last performance of it on April 27th, but I wouldn't really count on getting the ticket. We'll see. From what I hear though, it's supposed to be a very gory version, passionate and cruel.
Rumour (and The Guardian) has it, that McAvoy is under constant stress because of it, and he also couldn't stand a member of the audience filming him on his mobile phone. He halted the performance, yelled at the guy to stop immediately and then went on with his lines. I don't blame him. Not at all.
I know how great McAvoy actually is on stage, a couple years back I saw him in "Three Days of Rain", which was absolutely brilliant.
Besides, McAvoy has also another story to tell with his Macbeth, as he played Joe Macbeth in a television mini-series which retold the story of the classical drama. So, going to the same river again, must have loved it  the first time.
Anyway, "Macbeth" in Trafalgar Studios in London, for a limited season from February 9th till April 27th, 2013.
More details here.

"Rocky" - magnificent comeback of the great story now on stage

"Rocky: the Musical" has opened in the end of November in TUI Operettenhaus in Hamburg and now is rumored to be staged soon also on Broadway. No wonder though, the script has been wonderfully adapted to stage, with praises from the writer and main actor, Sylvester Stallone, acting here as a producer, along with the super-duo of boxer brothers, Vitaly and Vladimir Klitschko, who are known to be able businessmen as well.
The musical opened to "raptuous critical reception" and hasn't seen an empty seat from the premiere.
And it has been a nearly impossible task to make the story successful on stage. Have you ever thought that Rocky can sing? Well, it was almost unbelievable from the start, but I and the rest of the audience, were amazed by how it all actually works  together. The lyrics and tunes are catchy, the acting great.
The artworks and the usage of the media create an astonishing effect. Set design makes impossible come true, as Rocky runs through the streets of Philadephia like in the movie and for this one moment runs up the famous stairs to the tunes of "Eye of the Tiger." A truly wonderful performance that shows that Hamburg is in the top three cities to claim the right to call itself best in musical performances (along with London's West End and New York's Broadway). Now, I'm impatiently waiting for the upcoming premiere of "War Horse," planned for 2014. In London it was breath-taking. I cannot be different in Hamburg.
"Rocky: the Musical" - a magnificent performance, and in German! Yo Rocky, you sing!
The New York Times writes about it, as well as The Guardian. The brilliant trailer of the musical was published by Die Welt.
The official page is here.

"God of Carnage" in Teatr 6. Pietro Warsaw

Last Saturday, November 10th 2012, a new play opened up in one of the most popular new commercial theatres in Warsaw. Teatr 6. Pietro (Theatre 6th Floor) is located in one of the greatest and most central spots on the map in the capital of Poland - in the Culture and Science Palace, exactly opposite Marszalkowska Street, one of the central streets in Warsaw (currently under re-construction).

The play that premiered is called "God of Carnage" and is brilliantly written by Yasmina Reza. The play became famous quite recently due to the latest film directed by Roman Polanski, entitled "Carnage" and starring Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz and George C. Reilly. Polanski has written the script along with Reza and the film was very successful indeed.
This time, the theatre version is directed by Malgorzata Bogajewska, starring the director of the theatre himself, Michal Zebrowski as Alain, Anna Dereszowska as Annette, Jolanta Fraszynska as Veronique and Cezary Pazura as Michel. To those who do not know celebrity gossip around Warsaw or don't necessarily watch Polish TV or Polish films, it might come as a surprise, but the cast is actually constructed of few of the most popular film and television actors there currently are in Poland.

Hamlet in Wspolczesny, Warsaw

I'm sure that everyone has at least seen "Hamlet" by William Shakespeare once in their life. Or perhaps read the drama. Personally, each time I read or see the play (and I do so once in a while), new things unravel and grab my attention. Timeless story, world-famous lines and a shakespearean touch - that makes a true masterpiece of a drama. Wspolczesny Theatre ("Modern" Theatre), located in a newly-rediscovered hipster-hub offers a traditional interpretation of "Hamlet". Very intense, physical interpretation indeed. And it really works well. The stage is quite small and it gets filled with plenty of great names of Polish theatre stage. Everlasting fame of playing the dream role of many, the title character, is designed for Borys Szyc (a controversial figure, not exactly making the right choices of film roles, but nevertheless a talented actor). Apart from the main role, the characters that deserve to be singled out undoubtedly are Slawomir Orzechowski as Polonius, Wojciech Zielinski as Laertes, Wojciech Zoladkowicz as Horatio, Krzysztof Kowalewski as one of the gravediggers and Antoni Paradowski as Fortinbras, Prince of Norway.
More on the play, on the website of the Wspolczesny Theatre.

What's On - London West End

London West End is one of the two (next to Broadway) most vibrant areas densely packed with theatres. Each season brings surprises, each brings new challenges, but also each brings marvels. This is a subjective guide to what might be soon the most discussed theatrical event in Europe. A guide to West End's next season's premieres.

Singin' in the Rain in Warsaw

Musical Theatre ROMA located in the middle of Warsaw is the last (or only) bastion for musicals' lovers. For several years now, the greatest musicals ever have received their Polish versions, which could only be staged here. Of course, still very very modest compared to London's West End, but better one than none. Polish version of "Singin' in the Rain" has some charm and wit, is funny at times too. But it still is very weird to listen to Polish language versions of "Singin' in the Rain" and "Good Morning." The acting is sometimes a little stiff, but dancing, especially performed by the backing dancers - almost perfect. All in all, a successful performance, although still light years away from the original.
Musical Theatre ROMA

Boski romans ("A Divine Romance")

There is a great new stage that opened in Warsaw, called Teatr Konsekwentny. It exists for 15 years now, but since March 2012 they are located in former vodka manufacture Koneser in the old Praga (Wytwórnia Wódek Koneser). The place has its wonderful atmosphere and it's just perfect for a new stage. Praga is still alive and rocking! The play, "A Divine Romance" is one of the best of the season, mostly due to great lines and cast. All falls into place. Also, the set design, although frugal, is really impressive. What is it about? You'd be surprised - it's about advertising a new bank in those times of crisis, called "Holy Bank." A new copywriter is supposed to advertise it in an easy, approachable way, and to do so, he has to do field research at church... but he's apparently an atheist. An argument with a former nun changes his views quite abruptly.
The play is extremely well written, there are lots of links to the current economic situation and the values in the society. It's witty, charming, important and funny. And it has Andrzej Konopka in the lead, with great Agnieszka Przepiórska and Eliza Borowska.Written and directed by Michał Walczak.
Highly recommended!
Teatr Konsekwentny