by tskz
We would like to invite you to a premiere show of a play titled “Doctor Korczak’s Lesson in Dying” directed by Jakub Kornacki , which will be staged on 24th April 2023 at the Lalka Theatre in Warsaw. This cultural event will be hosted by TSKŻ as part of the celebration of the 80th Anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.
The play based on “The Post Office”, a theatrical drama written by Rabindranath Tagore, an Indian poet, prose writer, philosopher and Nobel Prize winner, has been supplemented with some excerpts from Janusz Korczak’s personal diaries.
On 18th July 1942 “The Post Office” was staged by Janusz Korczak’s pupils at the Orphanage at 16 Sienna Street. Just a few days later, the children together with their tutors and Janusz Korczak himself were taken to the Umschlagplatz and subsequently deported to a death camp at Treblinka. Doctor Korczak’s idea was to make his pupils ready to face death. “Doctor Korczak’s Lesson in Dying” tells the story of preparations of a theatrical show at the Orphanage. The Warsaw premiere show will be the result of a six-month workshop attended by children from the Junior Musical Theatre in Gdynia. They will also be accompanied on stage by adult actors – in the role of Janusz Korczak: Jakub Kornacki, a Tri-City actor and director. Meanwhile, the character of Mrs. Stefa will be portrayed by Agnieszka Brenzak – an actress and singer who co-operates with the Musical Theatre in Gdynia and the Musical Theatre in Toruń.
The director of the play, Jakub Kornacki, has summarised the show as follows: It is one of the most challenging projects I have ever accomplished. How will one tell the story of the atrocities of the Warsaw Ghetto times in such a way as to tell the truth and not overwhelm the sensitivity of the audience and, above all, of the children who are performing in the play? Fortunately, my fears of encountering child actors were dispelled for me… by themselves. Even during the casting, I found out that I was dealing with a group of absolutely exceptional children. Almost all of them already have experience on stage; some of them have appeared in professional film productions. When a child speaks so truthfully on stage, Korczak’s words: “children are more than actors” come true. I myself had a tight throat when “my theatrical children” so beautifully and truly embodied the characters of this drama. I found it hard to partner with them…”
The premiere show will take place at the Lalka Theatre, Warsaw.
The venue of the premiere is by no means accidental, as the historical location of Doctor Korczak’s Orphanage used to be right where the Palace of Culture and Science now stands.
Premiere Show:
Monday, 24th April 2023, 7:00 PM
The Premiere Show: Monday, 24th April 2023, 4:30 PM
The Lalka Theatre (pl. Defilad 1, Warsaw)
Adapted and directed by: Jakub Kornacki
Set & Costumes: Monika Wójcik
Music: Marcin Wasilewski
The Cast:
Jakub Kornacki – Doctor Korczak
Agnieszka Brenzak – Ms Stefa
The Children:
Emilia Baranowska , Maria Błaszkiewicz, Franciszek Jachimowski, Wanda Krupska, Kalina Pardyak, Zofia Płonecka, Mikołaj Sobol – Czuliński, Franciszka Stawińska, Szymon Szenk, Maciej Szymański, Szymon Szweda, Roch Troka, Karolina Wojda
Hosted by: The Social and Cultural Association of Jews in Poland
Co-hosted by: The Warsaw Ghetto Museum
This cultural event has been held under the honorary patronage of Marek Michalak, PhD – Ombudsman for Children (2008-2018)
Our Partners: Jewish Historical Institute, Warsaw Ghetto Museum, Janusz Korczak International Association, Janusz Korczak Institute for Children’s Rights
Media Patronage: Radio dla Ciebie
Free tickets will be available at the Box Office, the Lalka Theatre from 17th April 2023
Duration: 60 min
Minimum age: 10+
The 80th Anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
The event has been subsidised by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage
