Henryk Sienkiewicz Greatest Hits

In the Polish vicious circle of literature and thinking about the nation, the supreme place is undoubtedly occupied by Henryk Sienkiewicz — an incomparable popularizer of himself, a celebrity of the 19th century, whose undying star still shines brightly above us like the idea of a great, powerful Poland, reaching “from sea to sea”. Despite the fascinating recognition and success, the writer consciously used his outstanding talent, selling the literary version of today's serials to the newspapers of that time and writing novels so that readers simply liked them. What if this constructor of Polish nationality, a sad gentleman from school textbooks, was brought out of his serious role as the leading builder of Poles' hearts and confronted Wyspiański and Gombrowicz? If I could evoke his spirit and ask what Poland and Polishness mean today (or should mean)? Would he find words for our Polish disorder today?

Description of the play: This is the story of Poland according to Henryk Sienkiewicz, a specialist in optimism, in which Poles look at themselves as if in a mirror, becoming Romans, fighting under Grunwald, despairing over the fate of poor Janek the Musician and drinking vodka with the rubbish Zagłoba. Everything happens here at once, everything mixes, creating a completely crazy collage that distances viewers from rigid thinking about patriotism and national holiness. Krzysztof Materna's play is an author's workshop on Polishness for anyone who asks himself whether it is still worth talking about a sense of identity with the nation and its history, and whether such “heart-warming” as proposed by Sienkiewicz still has a value integrating us, Poles, entangled in the present. The play premiered in 2012 at the IMKA Theatre in Warsaw.

Duration of the performance: 110 minutes (without interruption)

Release Date: January 2, 2022