Teutonic Knights

Performance as part of the 8th Kielce International Theatre Festival

Recommended for people from 16 years of age, it operates with intense visual images and loud music. A performance with naps in English. After the performance, there will be a meeting with the creators.

Sienkiewicz, going back to the history of Poland's clash with the power of the Teutonic Order, created a story that quickly became more than just a history lesson. On the basis of medieval chronicles, he built a full picture of struggle, loyalty and national resistance at a time when the Poles themselves needed symbolic support.

At the center of the story, the author placed the moving story of Zbyszek and Danusa — an intimate and emotional narrative axis that adds a human dimension to the novel. 'The Crusaders' is not only a literary classic, but also a manifesto of hope and cultural strength that has endured despite political enslavement.

Many of the creators of this show deserve words of appreciation, starting with the scenography and costumes, extremely funny — soldiers and religious knights in fluffy silver armor look like puppets on slender legs — and at the same time profoundly ghastly, through the musical layer, projections to the script, which he draws from Sienkiewicz's novel Essence and themes ignored, such as the place of women in the order, the role of prophetic patronesses of Poland (Queen Jadwiga) or the war furor engulfing men. Jan Klata once again gave a performance that poses many questions and uncomfortable observations to Poland. Even if sometimes his suggestions raise doubts or questions, it is impossible to refuse them a high temperature.

Tomasz Miłkowski, AICT Poland

“Teutonic Knights” from the Jaracz Theatre in Olsztyn is one of the best performances by Jan Klata since the excellent “Wedding” in the Old Theatre (2017), and some scenes, also thanks to the choreography of Maćek Prusak, are at the forefront of the achievements of the current head of the National Theatre.

Jacek Cieślak, Republic of Poland