Clip — Polish Theatre in the Underground Wroclaw

A performance that almost immediately after its premiere achieved cult status: “Wycinka” — the international hit of the former Polish Theatre in Wrocław and its showcase — resumed in February 2026 by the Polish Theatre in the Underground.

Since its premiere in 2014, the play has been screened at many national and international festivals, received almost all major awards, and at the beginning of December 2025 it premiered at the Television Theater.

Krystian Lupa, behind Thomas Bernhard, gives a bitter assessment of the state of European elites immersed in decadent powerlessness. A unique event on the Polish theater map. An opportunity to meet again with actors who return to previously created — and enriched by this time — creations.

The script of the play was based on an adaptation of Bernhard's novel - a novel with a key, the publication of which caused a scandal and a judicial ban on distribution. We watch the story of the “eminently artistic dinner” given by the Auersberger couple in honor of the actor from the National Theater. The most important guest of the evening is late. Increasingly impatient participants have “artistic conversations”. Thomas Bernhard mercilessly strips the participants of appearances, accusing them of selling — for grants, orders, medals and other state honors — and easy renunciation of the ideals they espouse. Among the words begins to emerge the theme of the suicide of a mutual friend — Joana Thul, who was the only one who wanted to save authenticity.

In connection with the recent death of Jan Frycz, Krystian Lupa's performance will be presented in a new format. The second act, with the role of the Actor of the National Theater, will be shown using the realization of the Television Theater and will be a symbolic farewell to the outstanding actor and his unforgettable creation.

Production: Jerzy Grotowski Institute in Wrocław

Show partner: Polish Theatre Foundation — TP dla Sztuki

Project financed by the Municipality of Wrocław

Stage exhibition with permission from @ Suhrkamp Verlag AG Berlin.

Use of excerpts from Friederike Mayröcker's poem “études” with permission @ Suhrkamp Verlag AG Berlin 2013.

The license to use the works was granted by the Association of Authors ZAiKS.

The performance used works:

“The Cold Song” by Henry Purcell performed by Klaus Nomi, lyrics by John Dryden (1981), “Boléro” by Maurice Ravel performed by the London Symphony Orchestra (2009), “Candy Land” by CocoRosie, lyrics by Sierra Casady and Bianca Casady (2004), lyrics by Verena Lercher and Gerrieta Krishna Sharma, which was composed during rehearsals for premiums “Clippings” in Graz (Austria): “I always imagine the creation of art by association with the forest... It is not about planting this forest, nor about piercing the forest with some kind of sieve. Rather, to circle this forest for so long, to run around the forest, until there is a point from which you can see the infallible line through and through” (2014).