The Wedding
The Wedding by Stanisław Wyspiański directed by Jan Klata from The Helena Modrzejewska National Stary Theatre in Krakow will be presented at the National Theatre on September 20 and 21, 2025.
A hysterical bout of laughter from Czepiec and the Journalist follows the famous words “What news in politics, good sir?”, just before a wall of noise from the black metal group Furia blasts out, striking up the dance for the wedding-guests – this is the dynamic beginning of The Wedding AD 2017 in Jan Klata’s rendition.
Instead of the picturesque Bronowice hut, we have a land in perpetual reconstruction, but the director does not exert himself to update the drama: the scaffolding designed by Justyna Łagowska wrapped in black plastic, the tree stump, and the empty chapel create a disquieting backdrop where two separate worlds can meet. The two sides – the blasé city-dwellers devoid of verve and charisma and the bawdy “folk” full of vivacity and blindly seeking a vent for their emotions – only unite in moments of trance-like dance. Around the stage, on four monumental pedestals stand musicians with black-and-white faces (contemporary Straw-men). The action plays itself out in time to their music, “half mocking, half serious,” but in the ecstatic moments the choreographic arrangements by Maćko Prusak bring the temperature to a boil. A moment later the protagonists sink into another marasmus, “only fiddling with their dreams,” eternally awaiting a sign.
This is a “Wedding” without the concluding straw-man dance, because the dance continues throughout it. It is a remarkable show of strength of the multi-generational acting ensemble of the National Stary Theatre, and it ideally suits the mission of the national stage. It approaches the literary classic with respect, and the phenomenal actors allow every word of Wyspiański’s text to ring true.
Jacek Wakar, Magazyn O! Kultura
The performance is not recommended for viewers under 16.
Please mind: this production contains loud black metal music, flashing lights, smoke effects, dynamic choreography, nudity, religious and political topics.
director, stage adaptation Jan Klata
set design, costumes, lights director Justyna Łagowska
choreography Maćko Prusak
music: Furia
set designer assistant Piotr Halter
sound producer Łukasz Kamiński, Adam Gajewski
director's assistants Paweł Sablik, Andrzej Błażewicz
Cast
Radczyni Anna Dymna
Bride Karolina Staniec
Black Knight Małgorzata Gorol (guest actor)
Haneczka Ewa Kaim
Rachel Katarzyna Krzanowska
Host’s Wife Beata Paluch
Maryna Jaśmina Polak (guest actor)
Zosia Anna Radwan
Priest Bartosz Bielenia (guest actor)
Kacper Maciej Charyton
Host Juliusz Chrząstowski
Jasiek Krystian Durman
Journalist Roman Gancarczyk
Kuba Grzegorz Grabowski
Jew Jacek Romanowski
Poet Zbigniew W. Kaleta
Hetman Zbigniew Kosowski
Groom Radosław Krzyżowski
Granddad / Spectre Ryszard Łukowski
Vernyhora Paweł Kruszelnicki
Czepiec Krzysztof Zawadzki
Stanczyk Jan Peszek (will perform in the performances on September 20th), Edward Linde-Lubaszenko (will perform in the performance on September 21th)
Klimina Elżbieta Karkoszka
Jasiek Andrzej Kozak
Straw-man Michał Kuźniak
Kosynierzy Mikołaj Głowacki, Janusz Jarecki, Ryszard Ogiegło, Bogusław Pieróg, Grzegorz Sterliński, Krzysztof Sterliński
live music Furia
