MonoFest Day 1

DAY 1

19:00 Piotr Ramlau — I was everything

20:00 Wojciech Kowalski — Homosovieticus

I was everything

“I was everything” is a spectacle - a journey into the depths of oneself, into the past and into a broken future. It is a story of disharmony with being, of rebellion against a reality that seems to be still insufficient, unsatisfactorily hurtful, not what it was supposed to be. We get to know the protagonist of the play in a borderline situation — at the moment of the decision to commit suicide — on the verge of being. In our narrative, we ask ourselves about the chances of overcoming such a difficult and extreme situation. Is it still possible to let light into this crypt?

“I Was Everything” is a story of hope, of opening up to oneself and drawing from one's experience. Maybe this is where the way to the resurrection is hidden?

The show operates in a sparing and intimate form, focused on the emotional presence of the protagonist and his inner world. Minimalist stage means and poetic language of narration build a space of close encounter with the viewer, allowing the fragile, unspoken and hidden beneath the surface of everyday life to sound. The project approaches the topic of depression and mental crisis with great attention and sensitivity, creating a space for reflection on loneliness, hope and the possibility of finding oneself.

Piotr Ramlau — actor, currently a participant in the second year of a three-year acting course at the Studio Sztuki Teatralno-Aktorska STA in Poznań. He has performed in plays realized by the school (including Mother Joanna, Stories) presented, among others, on the stage of the New Theater in Poznań. He took part in the performance with elements of the modern opera “Bodies o-ships 2025", in which he played the main role. By education he is a dentist and a doctor of medical sciences in the field of maxillofacial surgery. He is also a co-creator of the black metal band Profeci, with whom he has recorded three albums and is actively touring throughout Poland.

Michał Zędb — alternative theatre actor, cultural animator, lecturer and voice actor. A graduate of Polish philology and music education at the Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz. Associated with the Bydgoszcz theatre community, where he works as a creator, organizer of artistic events and manager of cultural projects. In 2009—2016 he collaborated with ArletEater, appearing in the plays Medea, Miasto nad Kanał, Enigma — in Rejewski's Mind and in the monodrama Toz-samość. Since 2011 he has been associated with the Theatre Association “Juvenkracja”, within which he co-created theatre projects, festivals and educational events. He also collaborates with the theater “niebło” /Niebo-Piekło, performing stage performances as well as word-music projects, radio plays and performative forms. He is a laureate of artistic scholarships from the City of Bydgoszcz and a scholarship from the Minister of Culture and National Heritage. He is currently the director of the Municipal Cultural Centre in Janikowo.

Production: Studio of Theatre and Acting Art STA

Homosovietisk

The monodrama was constructed on the basis of the works of Mikhail Zoshchenko — selected satirical stories about the petty bourgeoisie and philistry of Russian citizens of the post-revolutionary years. The additional atmosphere of this staging is added by the songs of Bulat Okudzhava accompanied by an accordion.

WOJTEK KOWALSKI THEATRE FROM CZĘSTOCHOWA Wi-fi Theatre. In the 90s - those musician of the band Hababuk. From 2000 to 2009 actor of the Theater from Poland. He cooperated with the Zielona Góra Cabaret Basin. He appeared in several films of the A'YOY label, among others he partnered with Stanisław Tym and Maćek Stuhr in “Fairy Tales of People from Here”, playing the role of Hector. Two-time winner of the Max Szoc Award on Fame (1995, 2010). For his author's monodramas, he received more than a dozen acting awards at the most important theater festivals in the country.

Łukasz Jaworski is an accordionist. He graduated from the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice. As a soloist and chamber musician, he held leading places in national and international music competitions. He has performed both in Poland and abroad, including in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Great Britain, Ireland, France, the Czech Republic, Russia, Ukraine and Lithuania. He has collaborated with the Krakow Opera Orchestra, the Częstochowa Philharmonic Orchestra, the Adam Mickiewicz Theatre in Częstochowa. Since 2009, together with Piotr Chołołowicz and Jakub Mietła, he has been creating the accordion trio Ars Harmonica. He is the author of music for theatrical plays.

Text: MIKHAIL ZOSHCHENKO

screenplay, direction, performance, singing: WOJCIECH KOWALSKI

songs: BUŁAT SZAŁWOWICZ OKUDŻAWA

accordion: ŁUKASZ JAWORSKI

set design: YOLA NYKOWSKA

The most important awards received by the show:

Award of the Mayor of the City of Gdańsk for the best director at XXII

WINDOWISKO Festival of Copyright 2021

Golden Mud Bowl at the XXXIX Theatre Feast Horyniec Zdrój

2018

1st acting award at XXIV Słodkobłękitach - Zgierz 2018

The National Festival of the Theater of One Actor MonoFest is one of the most important events that the Sewing House has been creating for years.

It is an event that has its own brand and rich history, presenting to the Łódź audience artistically diverse performances of the theater of one actor selected in the selection process.

MonoFest has the form of a review, promoting and investigating the phenomenon of monodrama, which is also a space for conversations in a warm and friendly atmosphere, during which we also learn to talk about theater without running away from any issues.