Revision of the trial of Jesus

Katarzyna Kozyra, one of the most famous Polish artists — carver, photographer, author of performances, films, video installations — a key figure of Polish critical art of the 1990s, decided for the first time to consider herself a theatrical subject.

“On my journey as an artist, I faced different forms of expression, and now it's time for theatre. It is an interesting field for all my activities so far. Combined together they will bring something new,” says the artist, whose works have been presented at the most important exhibitions, galleries and museums in the world.

The starting point of Katarzyna Kozyra's play will be a reference to her high-profile project — Searching for Jesus, which told about the so-called Jerusalem syndrome. This time, the artist wants to look at the legal and cultural aspect of this most important process, which determined the entire subsequent course of history.

The theater takes place in “Revision...” in subtly sketched relationships between the narrators [...]. The actors on the one hand speak in one voice, and on the other, listening to the words of their colleagues, they roll their eyes discreetly, sighing significantly. [...] As if each and every one of them wanted to tell it all in their own way. Without experiencing the limitations of a collective narrative. [...]

The duo Kozyra/Bednarek turns the camera, with which Kozyra filmed modern Jesuses from modern Jerusalem, people fused with stories from years ago, towards us. And if this spectacle was created for anything, it is, in my opinion, precisely so that we can review ourselves in the founding myth of Judeo-Christianity infected with resentment of an unjust judgment. Not for historical curiosities. For a deep experience of our identity. To locate the extent to which this cross oppresses us today.

Tadeusz Marek, RADIO KRAKOW

Sensory stimuli: strobe light, light effects, flashing lights, smoke. Part of the scenography is a large object placed above part of the audience. We have taken care of your complete safety, but if you feel uncomfortable in such situations, please let us know. We will try to find a comfortable place for you.

The script is based on the following source texts:

Giorgio Agamben, Pilate and Jesus, trans. Monika Surma-Gawłowska, Andrzej Zawadzki, Znak, Kraków 2017. Millennium Bible — Sacred Scripture of the Old and New Teatament, Pallottinum, Poznań 2019. Paulina Święcicka, The Trial of Jesus in the Light of Roman Law. Legal and Historical Study, Wolters Kluwer, Warsaw 2012. Leo Zen, So Invented Christianity, trans. Beata Badyńska, Stapis, Katowice 2018.

Revision of the Jesus Trial — Program

The play takes part in the 32nd National Competition for the Exhibition of Polish Contemporary Art

Prizes:

○ Best light direction for Klaudyna Schubert | in the BEST 2024/2025 list according to the TEATR Monthly

The license for the use of the dramatic work and the musical illustration was granted by the Association of Authors ZAiKS.