Red and black

Are we really the makers of our own destiny? Or are we guided by an invisible force that gives us ready-made scenarios? And if so, do we have any chance of getting out of her trap?

The play “Red and Black” is an adaptation of the 19th century novel by Stendhal, which was included in the Index of Forbidden Books and is recognized as a masterpiece of world literature. Its protagonist is Julian Sorel, the son of a poor carpenter from the small town of Verrières, dreaming of social advancement. As a 19-year-old, he enters the seminary, from then on his fate resembles a game of roulette, in which the wheel is spinning by church and secular authorities. What seems like a blessing soon becomes his curse. One day he is loved and desired, and the next — the same people — condemn him to the scaffold. Who was Julian Sorel? Who wanted to kill him? Who has benefited from this?

During the performance, we conduct an investigation and interrogation, during which we try to find out who is behind the death of Julian Sorel. In this way we activate mechanisms of defense, inquiry and lies, which show that in reality each of us can find ourselves in a similar situation, because in the face of the mechanisms of power, the life of an individual does not mean anything. As a result, a very contemporary and current story was created, in which we managed to remain faithful to Stendhal — says Bartosz Szydłowski, director of the play.

Main photo and thumbnail: photo: Mateusz Skwarczek

Photos in the gallery: photo: Dawid Ścigalski