Wznowienie (“The Revival”) by Maciej Wojtyszko

Two actresses. One dead director. A puppet show that means way more than it should. 

"Every director should be suspected of the worst, including nymphomania, schizophrenia, pederasty, necrophilia, idiocy, cannibalism, and a total lack of imagination. Other than that, he should be trusted completely."

From Maciej Wojtyszko — one of Poland’s most celebrated playwrights and directors — comes this quiet masterwork, in London for only 5 performances.

Two actresses restage a play, the final performance of a great director. As they unpack their history with Tadeusz, and the circumstances of his death, they must come to terms with a story of artistic brilliance, abuse, and codependency that is far more complicated than either could have imagined. Sharp, funny, and quietly devastating — a rare opportunity to see a masterwork of Polish theatre.

In the original Polish (with surtitles).

Directed by Kirill Ivanov

Actors

Urszula Malka (Krystyna) - renowned Polish actress in the troupe of Lev Dodin's renowned Maly Drama Theatre for 20 years, performing in major theatres in Poland, Italy, France, and the Baryshnikov Arts Centre, New York. Originated numerous roles, including the lead role in Warszawska Melodia. 

Anastazja Iskra (Joanna) - studied at the prestigious Moscow Art Theatre School and performed in various theatres in Poland and internationally as an actor and puppeteer. 

Designer

Karolina Martin - In 2020, she received the POLUNIMA Award for her monodrama Trzy ćwierci do śmierci. The production also received several other awards, including the Grand Prix and the Mały Wóz Tespisa at the 12th MoTyF Monodrama Festival in Tychy, 2nd place and the Audience Award at the Garderoba Independent Theatre Festival, as well as the Artistic Council Award – Strzała Północy 2018 at the 6th edition of the festival.

Playwright:

Maciej Wojtyszko is an acclaimed Polish director, playwright, and screenwriter. His decorated career spans over five decades of landmark stage, television, and film works. Renowned for directing major productions like Bulgakov’s Ostatnie dni and The Master and Margarita, Gombrowicz’s Ferdydurke, and Voltaire’s Candide, he has received prestigious honors including the Leon Schiller Award (1990), Officer’s Cross of Order of Polonia Restituta (2011), and Norwid Award (2015). As a playwright, his notable works include Kraina kłamczuchów, Semiramida, Chryje z Polską, and Dowód na istnienie drugiego.