Epitaph for the Prophet Ilya — The Verszalin Mystery

“Epitaph for the Prophet Ilya — The Mystery of Verszalin” is a musical and theatrical mystery by Bartłomiej Krysiuk inspired by the story of Verszalin and the character of Elias Klimowicz — a peasant from Podlasie, whom thousands of people considered as a prophet to prepare the world for the end times.

This is not a biographical story or a historical reconstruction. It is a mystery about the structure of ritual, in which music becomes the axis of dramaturgy, and the traditional funeral songs of Podlasie and the former Kresów — performed in their original linguistic records — guide the viewer through the next stages of the stage process.

It is a musical-theatrical mystery, in which theater, music and ritual form a single, inseparable whole.

At the intersection of theater, concert and rite, a story is created about the man who believed he was chosen and about the people who needed to believe in him.

The viewer becomes a witness to a process in which a community is born, a prophet arises, a myth is built, and with it the mechanism that leads to its inevitable collapse is triggered.

This is not a religious spectacle. It is a folk requiem from Podlasie.

Although inspired by a story from almost a hundred years ago, the show tells about phenomena that remain extremely current.

It is a story about the need for authority, the creation of spiritual, political and ideological leaders, and the responsibility of the community for its own choices.

It is also a story about how beliefs are born, how myths arise and how thin the line between truth, need and collective imagination can be.

Bartłomiej Krysiuk — Eliasz Klimowicz/Prophet Ilja Adam Strug — Voice/God Natasha Borycka — Fiokła/Lucyper Eliza Sacharczuk — Our Lady of Wierszalin I Julita Charytoniuk — Our Lady of Wierszalińska II

Wierszalin Choir Andrzej Popławski Mateusz Krysiuk Arkadiusz Motybel

Musicians Filip Wika Hipolit Woźniak

The show is intended for viewers 18+. Duration of the performance: approximately 90 minutes (without interruption). All performances are presented in a seated theatrical format. Seats are numbered, each ticket is assigned a seat. Entrance to the hall is possible 60 minutes before the start of the performance. Before and after the performance it will be possible to buy gadgets at the theater stand. All current information can be found on the website: www.prorokilja.pl