Mr. Wołodyjowski

Henryk Sienkiewicz Folk Theatre in Cracow

dir. Stanisław Chński, Bartosz Cwaliński

PREMIERE April 11

Chamber Stage Theatre Youth Institute

Every joke carries a grain of truth. Some jokes carry so much truth that they cease to be jokes. So it is with the title of this show. “Mr. Volodyowski” has not been staged as an independent theatrical work since 1889. To all those who now raise an eyebrow with a mocking “I wonder why?” We answer, “I don't know, but I guess.” Mr. Wołodyjowski, a national hero of the Polish steppes and in general of the times when Poland still had steppes. Presented as an immaculate model of a knight, a husband and a Pole who would rather blow himself up than lay down his weapon. Either we know him and love him, or even though we associate a mustache and end up wailing, spare the shame. The same game will get a chance to rest with us. To think about what all this is for and whether it was worth going crazy like that.

Forty-two years of life, twenty-five years of war. This is how Volodyovsky describes his life, and for the first time in a long time these words sound like something really dangerous. But will they be able to sound when everyone around is laughing, drinking, dancing and singing songs? We will see, we will check, we invite you to discuss. And somewhere in the background, Polish xenophobia, religious fanatics, Tatar publicists — amateurs and the hetman Jan Sobieski of the coat of arms of Janina still lurk in the background.

The show is designed both as an undertaking aimed at younger viewers, who may not have any associations with the legends of Sienkiewicz, and to older viewers, who can confront the contemporary reading of this novel with classic film adaptations.

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In the performance, STROBE LIGHTS are used, smoke, imitation of a firearm shot, violent scenes appear.

Creators

Director, dramaturgy: Stanisław Chński, Bartosz Cwaliński

Adapted by: Bartosz Cwaliński

Set design and costumes: Aleksandra Grabowska

Music: Szymon Górka, Michał Limboski

Choreography: Martyna Dyląg

Lighting design: Monika Stolarska

Lyrics: Michał Chński

Stage fencing: Maksymilian Hojka

Inspector, assistant directors: Alicja Starzyk

Assistant lighting director: Michał Piosek

photo: Jeremi Astaszow

duration: 165 min. with a break

Cast

PIOTR FRANASOWICZ: Michael Wolodyjowski

KAJETAN WOLNIEWICZ/PIOTR PIECHA: Onufry Zagłoba

MICHALINA DWORZACEK: Barbara Jeziorkowska

ROBERT RATUSZNY: Asia Mellechowicz

PAWEŁ KUMIĘGA: Adam Nowowiejski

WERONIKA KOWALSKA: Krzysia Drohojowska, Ewa Nowowiejska

MARTA BIZOŃ: Prior, Makowiecka, Ksiądz Kamiński, Mieszczanin 2

ANTONI WŁOSOWICZ: Ketling of Elgin, Timur

JAN NOSAL: Hetman Jan Sobieski, Henryk Sienkiewicz, Ghost

MACIEJ NAMYSŁO: Brother Sebastian, Tochtamysh, Tatar prisoner, Bourgeois 1

BIOGRAPHIES OF DIRECTORS

Stanisław Chński:

He was born in 2000. Graduated in Drama Directing at the Faculty of Directing and

Dramaturgy of the AST in Cracow. Winner of the Creative Scholarship of the City of Krakow in

the year 2025.

In 2024, he made his debut with “Glass Menagerie” at the Wybrzeże Theatre in Gdańsk.

Director and playwright of performances: “Ash” (Kolektyw Kombajn/Teatr AST),

“Climate Trilogy” (AST/UEK Theater), “Deserters” (Barakah Theater) “The

Clash/Collision” (People's Theatre), “Kamil's Birthday” (Theatre Without Reds) and

“It was nice to see you” (Stanisław Wyspiański Silesian Theatre in

Katowice) — for which he received (together with Bartosz Cwaliński) an award for

text at the 31st National Competition for the Exhibition of Polish Art

Contemporary. In cooperation with Bartosz Cwaliński, he also realized

“Koriolana” at the Izabela Cywińska New Theatre in Poznań and “Pana

Wołodyjowski” at the People's Theater.

Bartosz Cwaliński:

Born in 1996. Graduated from the Faculty of Law and Acting of the AST in

Cracow. She plays in the STU Theater in the performances “Black Comedy” and “Hamlet” and in

Barakah Theater in the play “Idiots. Save!”. It also appears on the boards

Warsaw and Silesian theatres. Actorily and Dramatically Contributed

a performance directed by Jakub Zalasa “Smolensk Late Night Show” at the Nowy Theatre named after Jakub Zalasa.

Kazimierz Dejmek in Łódź. He collaborated with Stanisław Chński (as

playwright) at the performances “It was nice to see you” at the Silesian Theater im.

Stanisław Wyspiański in Katowice (for which they received the text prize

at the 31st National Competition for the Exhibition of Polish Contemporary Art)

and “Koriolan” at the Izabela Cywińska New Theatre in Poznań. IN 2026

of the year he made his directorial debut in a duet with Chński's play “Pan

Wołodyjowski” at the People's Theater.